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[Patients' knowledge of the effects of X-rays]
A R Fartum1, J E Gjertsen, J L Larsen
1Det medisinske fakultet Universitetet i Bergen 5021 Bergen.
Background:
Exposure to radiation from different non-medical sources in the community is given more attention in the media. The effects of radiologic examination, however, seldom receive the same amount of interest.
Material And Methods:
295 patients were interviewed immediately after an X-ray examination at Haukeland Hospital to investigate what they knew about the effects of X-rays on the human body. In addition we wanted to find out whether referring doctors had informed their patients about possible unwanted effects of the radiological examination.
Results:
The patients were more aware of possible effects of radiation from high-voltage cables than of the effects from X-raying. Only three patients had been informed by their referring doctors that X-ray examination could have unwanted effects.
Interpretation:
Information to patients about diagnostic radiation should be improved.