Analysis of occupational radiation doses in nuclear medicine and radiography students during clinical training

An analysis compared the occupational radiation doses received by Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT) and radiography students during their clinical training at an Australian University from 2017 to 2020. Utilising Optically Stimulated Luminescence dosemeters to measure the personal dose equivalent, the retrospective cohort included students with dose readings above 100 μSv per monitoring period. Of the total number of students monitored, ~68% received doses below the minimum reportable threshold of 100 μSv per monitoring period, suggesting that most students had minimal exposure during their placements. A chi-square test revealed a significant difference between NMT and radiography students in the proportion of doses below this threshold (Hp(10): χ2(1, N = 1367) = 168.24, P < .001; Hp(0.07): χ2(1, N = 1367) = 139.27, P < .001). Analysing doses above this threshold revealed that NMT students had significantly higher median radiation doses than radiography students, with median Hp(10) doses of 161 μSv versus 130 μSv, respectively (P < .001). Year-to-year analysis indicated that NMT student doses remained stable over the study period, while radiography student doses varied significantly. Comparison with hospital staff doses showed that NMT students received significantly lower doses than professional NMTs (P < .001), whereas radiography students received higher doses than professional radiographers (P < .001). After limiting hospital staff doses to include those only above 100 μSv in a reporting period, radiography students still received higher doses than professional radiographers. The elevated exposure among NMT students compared to radiography students however, emphasizes the need for enhanced radiation protection strategies in nuclear medicine education, emphasising specialized training and regular dose assessments to ensure student safety without compromising educational quality.