Radiation awareness among radiology residents, technologists, fellows and staff: where do we stand?

OBJECTIVES To investigate and compare the knowledge of radiation dose and risk incurred in common radiology examinations among radiology residents, fellows, staff radiologists and technologists. METHODS A questionnaire containing 17 multiple choice questions was administered to all residents, technologists, fellows and staff radiologists of the department of medical imaging through the hospital group mailing list. RESULTS A total of 92 responses was received. Mean score was 8.5 out of 17. Only 48 % of all participants scored more than 50 % correct answers. Only 23 % were aware of dose from both single-view and two-view chest X-ray; 50-70 % underestimated dose from common studies; 50-75 % underestimated the risk of fatal cancer. Awareness about radiation exposure in pregnancy is variable and particularly poor among technologists. A statistically significant comparative knowledge gap was found among technologists. CONCLUSIONS Our results show a variable level of knowledge about radiation dose and risk among radiology residents, fellows, staff radiologists and technologists, but overall knowledge is inadequate in all groups. There is significant underestimation of dosage and cancer risk from common examinations, which could potentially lead to suboptimal risk assessment and excessive or unwarranted studies posing significant radiation hazard to the patient and radiology workers. MAIN MESSAGES • Knowledge of radiation dose and risk is poor among all radiology workers. • Significant knowledge gap among technologists compared to residents, fellows and staff radiologists. • Significant underestimation of radiation dose and cancer risk from common examinations.