Interventional Radiologists: a Necessary Evaluation of Technical, Protective and Technological Operation

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Radiology units are crucial for medical diagnosis, providing high-quality images.
• The performance of radiology personnel directly impacts radiography quality and patient safety.
• Occupational radiation doses are a key concern in diagnostic imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the operational performance of radiology personnel in hospitals affiliated with Mazandaran Medical Science Universities.
• To assess performance across technical, protective, and technological domains.
• To identify areas for improvement in radiology practices.

Main Methods:

• A checklist was used to observe and record 35 operations for 73 radiology personnel across three shifts.
• Personnel were assessed in technical, protective, and technological fields.
• A 40-question test was administered to evaluate knowledge in these three fields.

Main Results:

• Personnel achieved scores of 66.4%, 53.9%, and 60.2% in technical operations (morning, evening, night).
• Protective field scores were 68.1%, 59.5%, and 60.2% across shifts.
• Technological operation scores were significantly lower, ranging from 39.95% to 47.8%.

Conclusions:

• Overall personnel operations are nearly desirable but necessitate ongoing education and supervision.
• Enhancing radiation protection, ensuring tool accessibility, and continuous monitoring are vital.
• These measures are essential for reducing radiation doses absorbed by patients.