title: [Evaluation of the knowledge of physicians prescribing CT examinations on the radiation protection of patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the knowledge of physicians prescribing CT examinations on the radiation protection of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was distributed to all clinicians on medical staff who prescribe CT examinations. Several questions related to their prescription pattern and their knowledge of radiation protection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four questionnaires were analyzed. While 70% of physicians claimed that they considered the risks from exposure to ionizing radiation when prescribing a CT examination, only 25% informed their patients about those risks. Knowledge of the radiation dose delivered during CT evaluation of the abdomen and pelvis was poorly understood and the risks related to small doses of radiation were grossly underestimated. Finally, only a third of clinicians had received training with regards to radiation protection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While most clinicians claim that they consider the risks from exposure to ionizing radiation when prescribing a CT examination, the risks are either not well known or not known at all. Increased formation of clinicians with regards to the radiation protection of patients, maybe through a dedicated clinical rotation while in medical school, could be a solution to improve the knowledge of hospital clinicians with regards to radiation protection.
authors.affiliation: Service d'imagerie médicale, hôpital d'instruction des armées Legouest, 27, avenue de Plantières, BP 90001, 57077 Metz cedex 3, France. alban.gervaise@hotmail.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gervaise
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esperabe-Vignau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pernin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Naulet
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Portron
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lapierre-Combes
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000009:adverse effects; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000009:adverse effects; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects*