Awareness of Non-Radiological Background Saudi Physicians Regarding Risk of CT-Scan’s Radiation on Children
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- Category: Vol. 84, June 2016
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Awareness of Non-Radiological Background Saudi Physicians Regarding Risk of CT-Scan’s Radiation on Children, HUSSAIN ALMOHIY
Abstract
Background: Children are radiosensitive compared to the adult patient. Despite this, the level of concern about and well-informed interest concerning exposure to ionizing radi-ation on children is not known among physicians.
Aim of Study: To assess knowledge and practice among referring physicians on risks associated with radiation exposure during pediatric computed tomography imaging was assessed.
Methods: The study questionnaire was distributed to 105 Saudi physicians who were randomly selected from Aseer Central Hospital, Aseer Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Radiologists were excluded.
Results: Less than half of physicians (48.6%) were aware that their hospital’s policy indicates to openly discuss with the pediatric patient’s parents about the possible risk on children due to exposure to CT radiation, 34.3% were familiar with the principle of the “as low as reasonably achievable” and 11.4% discuss radiation doses with parents of sick children. Physicians’ awareness regarding differential risk of exposure to radiation according to child’s body parts differed signifi-cantly according to their specialty (p<0.01). Most physicians depend on self-directed learning to build up their education and training related to CT scans.
Conclusions: Physicians’ awareness about hazards of radiation exposure from CT scans among children are both inadequate and insufficient, which would mandate necessary immediate proper training measures.