title: Level of compliance with the radiation protection regulation--a survey among Norwegian hospitals and X-ray institutes.
abstract: To identify the level of compliance with the new radiation protection regulation among Norwegian health care enterprises (HCEs). Totally, 41 HCEs were authorised to use advanced X-ray equipment for medical purposes during 2005-07. Follow-up inspections with 14 HCEs were carried out during 2007-09. Main topics for the inspections were those requirements identified as most challenging to implement in the authorisation process. Totally, 192 non-conformities with the regulation were revealed during the authorisation process. The inspections revealed that 93 % of the inspected HCEs had non-conformities with the regulation. Most common non-conformities dealt with skills in radiation protection, establishment of local diagnostic reference levels, access to medical physicists and performance of quality control of X-ray equipment. Inspections are an effective tool for implementation of regulation the requirements at the HCEs, thus improving radiation protection awareness.
authors: Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Section for Dosimetry and Medical Applications, PO Box 55, 1332 Østerås, Norway. eva.friberg@nrpa.no
authors: E G
authors: EG
authors: Friberg
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Widmark
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Solberg
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Wøhni
mesh_terms: D054869:Clinical Audit; D003187:Compliance; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards*; D011859:Radiography; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards*; D014965:X-Rays