title: Ultrasound biosafety during pregnancy: what do operators know in the developing world?: national survey findings from pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of ultrasound users toward safety aspects during routine obstetric examinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered questionnaire was given to all registered participants of the 10th Annual International Radiological Conference in Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 306 participants completed the questionnaire (response rate, 70%), including 170 consultant radiologists (55%), 90 radiology residents (30%), 31 sonographers (10%), and 15 others (5%). The mean sonography experience of the end users ± SD was 5.1 ± 5 years. Around half of the participants (45.5%) reported that there should be limitations on the use of ultrasound during low-risk pregnancy. Overall, safety knowledge was inadequate among the participants. However, those who were concerned about limitations on the use of ultrasound during pregnancy were 2.5 times more likely to be familiar with the mechanical index (P < .001) and 1.8 times more likely to be familiar with the thermal index (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased training for professionals on safety issues of ultrasound procedures during pregnancy is needed. Furthermore, the concept of the absolute safety of ultrasound procedures without knowledge of safety parameters such as the mechanical and thermal indices needs to be changed, and more clarity is required when defining parameters under which the procedures can be safely performed.
authors.affiliation: MBFCPS, Department of Radiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Stadium Road, Karachi, Sind, Pakistan. waseem.mirza@aku.edu
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Mubashir Aslam
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arain
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Nabeel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manzar
authors.forename: Zafar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sajjad
authors.forename: Mukhtiar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Wasim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Nadeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan; D011247:Pregnancy; D012449:Safety; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*