Granata Claudio, Briers Erik, Candela-Juan Cristian, Damilakis John, De Bondt Timo, Faj Dario, Foley Shane, Frija Guy, de Las Heras Gala Hugo, Hiles Peter, Pauwels Ruben, Sans Merce Marta, Simantirakis Georgios, Vano Eliseo, Gilligan Patrick
Department of Paediatric Radiology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.
Member ESR‑Patient Advisory Group, Patient Advocate, Hasselt, Belgium.
Insights Imaging. 2023 Jun 19;14(1):108. doi: 10.1186/s13244-023-01452-3.
Contact shielding (CS) of patients during X-ray studies has been used for decades to protect radiosensitive organs. This practice has not changed much despite increasing evidence that CS is not useful in many cases. The Gonad And Patient Shielding (GAPS) group-founded by representatives of the main European bodies involved in radiology-promoted this survey to assess the current practice of CS among European radiology departments and the attitude towards a non-shielding policy.
Over a four-month period (15 May-15th September 2021) European Society of Radiology and European Society of Paediatric Radiology radiologist members were invited to respond to a web-based questionnaire consisting of 59 questions.
225 centres from 35 countries responded to this survey. CS was routinely applied in at least one radiological modality in 49.2% of centres performing studies in adults, 57.5% of centres performing studies in children, and 47.8% of centres performing studies on pregnant women. CS was most frequently used in conventional radiography, where the most frequently shielded organs were the gonads, followed by thyroid, female breasts, and eye lens. 83.6% respondents would follow European recommendations on the use of CS when provided by the main European bodies involved in radiology.
This review shows that CS is still largely used across Europe. However, a non-shielding policy could be adopted in most departments if European professional societies provided recommendations. In this regard, a strong commitment by European and national professional societies to educate and inform practitioners, patients and carers is paramount.
According to this survey expectations of patients and carers, and skepticism among professionals about the limited benefits of CS are the most important obstacles to the application of a no-shielding policy. A strong commitment from European and national professional societies to inform practitioners, patients and carers is fundamental.
在X线检查期间对患者进行接触防护（CS）已应用数十年，以保护放射敏感器官。尽管越来越多的证据表明CS在许多情况下并无用处，但这种做法变化不大。由欧洲放射学主要机构的代表成立的性腺与患者防护（GAPS）小组推动了这项调查，以评估欧洲放射科目前的CS做法以及对非防护政策的态度。
在四个月的时间里（2021年5月15日至9月15日），邀请了欧洲放射学会和欧洲儿科放射学会的放射科医生成员回答一份包含59个问题的网络问卷。
来自35个国家的225个中心回应了这项调查。在进行成人检查的中心中，49.2%的中心至少在一种放射检查方式中常规应用CS；在进行儿童检查的中心中，57.5%的中心常规应用CS；在进行孕妇检查的中心中，47.8%的中心常规应用CS。CS最常用于传统放射摄影，其中最常防护的器官是性腺，其次是甲状腺、女性乳房和晶状体。83.6%的受访者在欧洲放射学主要机构提供相关建议时会遵循欧洲关于CS使用的建议。
这项综述表明，CS在欧洲仍被广泛使用。然而，如果欧洲专业学会提供建议，大多数部门可以采用非防护政策。在这方面，欧洲和国家专业学会大力致力于对从业者、患者和护理人员进行教育和宣传至关重要。
根据这项调查，患者和护理人员的期望以及专业人员对CS有限益处的怀疑是实施非防护政策的最重要障碍。欧洲和国家专业学会大力致力于向从业者、患者和护理人员进行宣传至关重要。
