Rose A, Rae W I D, Chikobvu P, Marais W
Department of Community Health, University of the Free State, South Africa.
J Radiol Prot. 2017 Jun 26;37(2):329-339. doi: 10.1088/1361-6498/aa5eee. Epub 2017 Mar 2.
Ionising radiation is a modality used in diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. The technology has improved and resulted in lower dose exposure but there has been an escalation in the quantity of procedures, their duration and complexity. These factors have meant increased occupational radiation exposure for interventionalists. Ionising radiation exposure can have detrimental health effects and includes radiation skin burns, various carcinomas, genetic and chromosomal aberrations and cataractogenesis of the lenses of the eye. The lenses of the eye are of the most radiosensitive organs and the risk of cataracts is high despite low radiation dose exposures. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is a method that can be used to mitigate the risk for developing lens opacifications. The consistent and effective utilisation of PPE is marred by availability, proper fit and ease of use when performing procedures. Radiation safety training is imperative to enforce a culture of radiation safety among interventionalists. The aim of this study was to quantify and describe cataracts among South African interventionalists and to understand their radiation safety practices. For this purpose, a cross sectional study was designed using multiple methods. A survey was conducted to determine the demographics and the risk factors of doctors exposed to radiation to doctors not exposed. The radiation workload and radiation safety practices of interventionalists were explored. Both groups had slit lamp examinations. The data were analysed analytically and a regression model developed looking at the outcomes and the risk factors. Qualitative in-depth interviews and group interviews were conducted to explore the perceptions of interventionalists regarding radiation safety. Deductive and inductive thematic analysis was done. Interdisciplinary research is challenging but offers tremendous opportunity for exploring and tackling complex issues related to securing a safe radiation work environment.
电离辐射是诊断和治疗医学中使用的一种方式。这项技术已经得到改进，导致剂量暴露降低，但检查程序的数量、时长和复杂性却在增加。这些因素意味着介入放射科医生的职业辐射暴露增加。电离辐射暴露会对健康产生有害影响，包括放射性皮肤灼伤、各种癌症、基因和染色体畸变以及眼部晶状体的白内障形成。眼部晶状体是对辐射最敏感的器官之一，尽管辐射剂量很低，患白内障的风险仍然很高。使用个人防护设备（PPE）是一种可用于降低发生晶状体混浊风险的方法。在进行操作时，PPE的持续有效使用受到其可用性、合适度和易用性的影响。辐射安全培训对于在介入放射科医生中强化辐射安全文化至关重要。本研究的目的是量化和描述南非介入放射科医生中的白内障情况，并了解他们的辐射安全实践。为此，设计了一项采用多种方法的横断面研究。进行了一项调查，以确定接触辐射的医生与未接触辐射的医生的人口统计学特征和风险因素。探讨了介入放射科医生的辐射工作量和辐射安全实践。两组都进行了裂隙灯检查。对数据进行了分析，并建立了一个回归模型，观察结果和风险因素。进行了定性深入访谈和小组访谈，以探讨介入放射科医生对辐射安全的看法。进行了演绎和归纳主题分析。跨学科研究具有挑战性，但为探索和解决与确保安全辐射工作环境相关的复杂问题提供了巨大机会。
