Neves Diana, Vale Filipa F, Pascoal Ana
DIATON S.A., Nuclear Medicine Department, Leiria, Santo-André Hospital, Rua das Olhalvas, Pousos, Leiria, Portugal.
Nucl Med Commun. 2012 Dec;33(12):1277-86. doi: 10.1097/MNM.0b013e328359d3ef.
Nuclear medicine (NM) is a rapidly developing field. In Portugal, no occupational study has been conducted yet that characterizes the professional profile of NM technologists (NMTs). We investigated the clinical tasks performed by NMTs in Portugal, analysing their practices with regard to radiation protection matters and their compliance with established international guidelines for best practice.
A questionnaire targeted at NMTs was constructed and distributed among 105 NMTs working in Portugal (an estimated 88% of the NMT population in Portugal). Questions addressed the demographic profile, academic background and professional profile of NMTs, with emphasis on practices adopted in NM tasks and radiation protection.
In all, 51.4% of the 105 NMTs responded. The majority (70.4%) of the NMTs studied were women, with an average age of 34.3 (± 10.4) years and 11.6 (± 10.6) years of professional experience. The reported NM tasks included radiopharmaceutical preparation (96.3%), PET (44.4%), intravenous administration (74.1%), administration with dose containers (97.7%) and administration with syringe shields (76.9%). The use of a protective lead apron was rare (2.7%). The average individual dose recorded was 3.8 (± 2.7%) mSv/year.
NMTs in Portugal are generally young women with specialized academic education, consistent with the developments in NM technology and education in Portugal since the past decade. The majority of NMT activities are focused on conventional NM. The estimated annual average individual dose is below the established legal limit. However, radiation protection practices related to staff protection are not harmonized, revealing key aspects to be considered in future education and training.
核医学是一个快速发展的领域。在葡萄牙，尚未开展过针对核医学技术人员职业概况的研究。我们调查了葡萄牙核医学技术人员执行的临床任务，分析了他们在辐射防护方面的做法以及他们对既定国际最佳实践指南的遵守情况。
针对葡萄牙的核医学技术人员编制了一份问卷，并分发给在葡萄牙工作的105名核医学技术人员（约占葡萄牙核医学技术人员总数的88%）。问题涉及核医学技术人员的人口统计学概况、学术背景和职业概况，重点是核医学任务中采用的做法和辐射防护。
105名核医学技术人员中，共有51.4%做出了回应。所研究的核医学技术人员大多数（70.4%）为女性，平均年龄为34.3（±10.4）岁，专业经验为11.6（±10.6）年。报告的核医学任务包括放射性药物制备（96.3%）、正电子发射断层扫描（PET）（44.4%）、静脉注射（74.1%）、使用剂量容器给药（97.7%）和使用注射器防护套给药（76.9%）。使用防护铅围裙的情况很少（2.7%）。记录的平均个人剂量为3.8（±2.7%）毫希沃特/年。
葡萄牙的核医学技术人员一般为年轻女性，接受过专业学术教育，这与过去十年葡萄牙核医学技术和教育的发展情况相符。大多数核医学活动集中在传统核医学方面。估计的年平均个人剂量低于既定的法定限值。然而，与工作人员防护相关的辐射防护做法并不统一，这揭示了未来教育和培训中需要考虑的关键方面。
