Lewis S, Pieterse T, Lawrence H
University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Radiography (Lond). 2019 Aug;25(3):e58-e62. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2019.01.003. Epub 2019 Jan 30.
Exposure indicators (EIs) are the only indicator of correct exposure technique in digital x-ray imaging systems but the use of such indicators remains largely unexplored in a South African setting. With exposure creep in the digital radiography age being a worldwide phenomenon, the study investigated radiographers' familiarity and use of EIs, providing insight into current exposure technique practices in this setting.
An explorative and descriptive quantitative study was conducted at 10 randomly selected radiography clinical training facilities in Gauteng, South Africa. The study used a questionnaire consisting of 26 questions based on familiarity with and use of EIs and radiographers' attitude to ionising radiation.
A response of rate of 49.3% was achieved. Results show a low number of respondents (54.3%) had a perfectly correct understanding of the exposure indicator (EI) and only 55.7% of respondents made correct use of the EI.
Observable lack of familiarity and use of the EI suggests that improvements could be made to the training radiographers receive on digital imaging systems. Moreover radiographers need to be vigilant against making decisions in digital radiography using knowledge that may relate exclusively to analogue radiography.
曝光指标（EIs）是数字X射线成像系统中正确曝光技术的唯一指标，但在南非环境中，此类指标的使用在很大程度上仍未得到充分探索。随着数字放射摄影时代的曝光漂移成为一种全球现象，本研究调查了放射技师对曝光指标的熟悉程度和使用情况，以深入了解该环境下当前的曝光技术实践。
在南非豪登省随机选择的10个放射摄影临床培训设施中进行了一项探索性和描述性定量研究。该研究使用了一份包含26个问题的问卷，内容涉及对曝光指标的熟悉程度和使用情况以及放射技师对电离辐射的态度。
获得了49.3%的回复率。结果显示，只有少数受访者（54.3%）对曝光指标（EI）有完全正确的理解，只有55.7%的受访者正确使用了EI。
明显缺乏对曝光指标的熟悉程度和使用情况表明，放射技师在数字成像系统方面接受的培训可以改进。此外，放射技师在数字放射摄影中做出决策时，需要警惕仅依赖与模拟放射摄影相关的知识。
