Radiography Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida MSD2090, Malta.
Eur J Radiol. 2023 Jan;158:110620. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2022.110620. Epub 2022 Nov 24.
The use of gonad contact shielding (GCS) in radiology departments has varied across countries, possibly because, until recently, there was no agreed consensus with mixed evidence supporting its use. This study aims to explore radiographers' use and opinion on GCS in digital radiography (DR) and to evaluate whether radiographers' use of GCS is associated with their gender, highest educational qualification, and/or years of experience.
An online survey was sent via email to potential participants through the Society of Medical Radiographers Malta (SRM) as well as social media posts on local radiography pages. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the collected data.
Almost half of the registered radiographers working in radiology departments in Malta (n = 101/203) completed the survey (49.7 % response rate). 61.4 % of participating radiographers indicated they 'often' use GCS in some patients, with 56.4 % stating they perceive GCS as an effective tool to protect the gonads from radiation exposure in DR. Equally, 56.4 % claimed that GCS use is guided by local rules and/or departmental protocols. While 58.4 % indicated that patients' gender does not impact their use of GCS, patients' age does influence their use. No statistically significant association was noted between radiographers' likeliness of using GCS and their gender, highest educational qualification, and/or years of experience.
Some misconceptions and uncertainties among radiographers concerning the benefits and risks of using GCS were noted. Local radiology departments should look into their protocols and assess the need for an update aligned with the latest recommendations.
放射科中使用性腺接触屏蔽（GCS）的情况因国家而异，这可能是因为直到最近，由于支持其使用的证据相互矛盾，尚未达成共识。本研究旨在探讨放射技师在数字放射摄影（DR）中使用 GCS 的情况及其对 GCS 的看法，并评估放射技师使用 GCS 是否与其性别、最高教育资格和/或工作年限有关。
通过马耳他放射技师学会（SRM）向潜在参与者发送电子邮件，以及在当地放射科页面上发布社交媒体帖子，在线调查放射技师。使用描述性和推断性统计来分析收集的数据。
马耳他放射科工作的注册放射技师中，有近一半（n=101/203）完成了调查（49.7%的回复率）。61.4%的参与放射技师表示他们在某些患者中“经常”使用 GCS，其中 56.4%表示他们认为 GCS 是在 DR 中保护性腺免受辐射暴露的有效工具。同样，56.4%的人声称 GCS 的使用遵循当地规定和/或部门协议。虽然 58.4%的人表示患者的性别不会影响他们使用 GCS，但患者的年龄会影响他们的使用。放射技师使用 GCS 的可能性与其性别、最高教育资格和/或工作年限之间没有统计学上的显著关联。
研究中发现放射技师对使用 GCS 的益处和风险存在一些误解和不确定性。当地放射科应审查其协议，并评估是否需要根据最新建议进行更新。
