Training and accreditation in radiation protection for interventional radiology

Training in radiation protection is a basic aspect of the optimisation of medical exposures. Council Directive 97/43/EURATOM establishes the need for an adequate theoretical and practical training of the staff working in radiological practices, and competence in radiation, for which Member States shall ensure the establishment of appropriate curricula. Keeping in mind the different specialities and professional responsibilities, training curricula must be proposed and endorsed to achieve a common core of knowledge in radiation protection throughout Europe, for different groups of health workers. In interventional radiology, previous initiatives led to the definition of a syllabus of educational objectives and to its testing in a specific course. The present paper presents educational objectives for interventional radiology, developed in the framework of the DIMOND European concerted action.