Personalized Feedback on Staff Dose in Fluoroscopy-Guided Interventions: A New Era in Radiation Dose Monitoring

Journal Article · Wed Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2017 · Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/S00270-017-1690-5· OSTI ID:22756337

Vergoossen, Laura; Paulis, Leonie; Zwam, Willem H. van,; Das, Marco

PurposeRadiation safety and protection are a key component of fluoroscopy-guided interventions. We hypothesize that providing weekly personal dose feedback will increase radiation awareness and ultimately will lead to optimized behavior. Therefore, we designed and implemented a personalized feedback of procedure and personal doses for medical staff involved in fluoroscopy-guided interventions.Materials and MethodsMedical staff (physicians and technicians, n = 27) involved in fluoroscopy-guided interventions were equipped with electronic personal dose meters (PDMs). Procedure dose data including the dose area product and effective doses from PDMs were prospectively monitored for each consecutive procedure over an 8-month period (n = 1082). A personalized feedback form was designed displaying for each staff individually the personal dose per procedure, as well as relative and cumulative doses. This study consisted of two phases: (1) 1–5th months: Staff did not receive feedback (n = 701) and (2) 6–8th months: Staff received weekly individual dose feedback (n = 381). An anonymous evaluation was performed on the feedback and occupational dose.ResultsPersonalized feedback was scored valuable by 76% of the staff and increased radiation dose awareness for 71%. 57 and 52% reported an increased feeling of occupational safety and changing their behavior because of personalized feedback, respectively. For technicians, the normalized dose was significantly lower in the feedback phase compared to the prefeedback phase: [median (IQR) normalized dose (phase 1) 0.12 (0.04–0.50) µSv/Gy cm{sup 2} versus (phase 2) 0.08 (0.02–0.24) µSv/Gy cm{sup 2}, p = 0.002].ConclusionPersonalized dose feedback increases radiation awareness and safety and can be provided to staff involved in fluoroscopy-guided interventions.

• OSTI ID: 22756337
• Journal Information: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Journal Name: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 40; ISSN 0174-1551; ISSN CAIRDG
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
DOSIMETRY
EFFECTIVE RADIATION DOSES
FEEDBACK
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GY RANGE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIATION MONITORS
RADIATION PROTECTION