Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
06:20
Irradiator Commissioning and Dosimetry for Assessment of LQ α and β Parameters, Radiation Dosing Schema, and in vivo Dose Deposition
Published on: March 11, 2021
Doctors' knowledge of radiation -- a two-centre study and historical comparison
D C Bosanquet1, G Green, A J Bosanquet
1Department of Surgery, Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Ynysmaerdy, Llantrisant, UK. davebosanquet@hotmail.com
Clinical Radiology
|May 7, 2011
Summary
Doctors still have poor knowledge of radiation doses from common imaging tests. While accuracy improved slightly, understanding of CT scans worsened, which is concerning given its increased use.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Radiation Safety
- Radiology Education
Background:
- Assessing physician knowledge of radiation exposure is crucial for patient safety.
- Previous studies indicated gaps in understanding radiation doses from common radiological procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate physician knowledge regarding ionizing radiation doses in 2010.
- To compare this knowledge with findings from a study conducted over 7 years prior.
Main Methods:
- Two cross-sectional surveys administered to doctors of all grades.
- Participants estimated radiation doses for 13 common radiological procedures.
- Accuracy was defined as estimates within 20% of the actual dose.
Main Results:
- Response rates were 130 in 2003 and 112 in 2010.
- Overall accuracy improved from 23.3% in 2003 to 29.4% in 2010.
- Doctors showed better accuracy in estimating doses for most procedures in 2010, except for abdominal CT scans.
Conclusions:
- Physician knowledge of radiation exposure from common imaging remains inadequate.
- A concerning trend of underestimation of radiation doses from CT scans was observed.
- Improved radiation dose awareness is needed, particularly for frequently used CT examinations.
Related Concept Videos
02:59Biological Effects of Radiation
All radioactive nuclides emit high-energy particles or electromagnetic waves. When this radiation encounters living cells, it can cause heating, break chemical bonds, or ionize molecules. The most serious biological damage results when these radioactive emissions fragment or ionize molecules. For example, α and β particles emitted from nuclear decay reactions possess much higher energies than ordinary chemical bond energies. When these particles strike and penetrate matter, they produce ions...
01:29Positron Emission Tomography
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique involving radiopharmaceuticals — substances that emit short-lived radiation. Although the first PET scanner was introduced in 1961, it took 15 more years before radiopharmaceuticals were combined with the technique and revolutionized its potential.
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body being...
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body being...
01:24X-ray Imaging
German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen (1845–1923) was experimenting with electrical current when he discovered that a mysterious and invisible "ray" would pass through his flesh but leave an outline of his bones on a screen coated with a metal compound. In 1895, Röntgen made the first durable record of the internal parts of a living human: an "X-ray" image (as it came to be called) of his wife’s hand. Scientists worldwide quickly began their own experiments with X-rays, and by 1900, X-ray was widely...
01:30Radiological Investigation I: X-ray and CT
Radiological investigations, including X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans, are critical for diagnosing and evaluating various medical conditions. These imaging techniques provide valuable insights into the body's internal structures, aiding in the detection of abnormalities, assessment of disease progression, and development of treatment strategies. This article delves into two primary radiological investigations, chest X-rays and CT scans, outlining their purpose, procedures, and the...
01:28Isotopes and Radioisotopes
In the early 1900s, English chemist Frederick Soddy realized that an element could have atoms with different masses that were chemically indistinguishable. These different types are called isotopes — atoms of the same element that differ in mass. Isotopes differ in mass because they have different numbers of neutrons but are chemically identical because they have the same number of protons. Soddy was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1921 for this discovery.
An isotope containing more...
An isotope containing more...
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...