Radiation safety knowledge and perceptions among residents: a potential improvement opportunity for graduate medical education in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate residents' knowledge of adverse effects of ionizing radiation, frequency of their education on radiation safety, and their use of radioprotective equipment.


METHODS
Residents from 15/16 residency programs at Emory University were asked to complete a resident radiation safety survey through SurveyMonkey(®). The associations between the residents' knowledge and use of radioprotective equipment with residents' specialty and year of training were investigated.


RESULTS
Response rate was 32.5% (173/532 residents). Thirty-nine percent residents reported radiation safety is discussed in their residency curriculum at least every 6 months. Ninety-five percent believed in a link between radiation exposure and development of cancer. Overall and Radiology residents' knowledge about specific estimated dose effects (correct responses) was limited: radiation dose associated with fetus brain malformation in pregnancy (10% vs. 26%), risk of developing cataract in interventional personnel (27% vs. 47%), lifetime risk of cancer mortality from a single abdominal computed tomography (CT) in children (22% vs. 29%), greater radiosensitivity of children compared to adults (35% vs. 50%), and relative radiation dose from an abdominal CT compared to a chest x-ray (51% vs. 48%). Radiology residents had modestly higher knowledge. There was no significant difference in residents' knowledge across their postgraduate training years. Use of lead thyroid shields was reported by 86% (97% radiology vs. 80% nonradiology; P = .03) and radiation-monitoring badges in 39% (68% radiology vs. 15% nonradiology; P < .001) of the residents.


CONCLUSIONS
Although radiology residents scored higher, knowledge of radiation safety for patients and healthcare workers is limited among residents regardless of medical specialty. These findings emphasize the need for educational initiatives.
Department of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322. Electronic address: gsadigh@emory.edu.
Gelareh
G
Sadigh
Department of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322.
Ramsha
R
Khan
Department of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322.
Michael T
MT
Kassin
Department of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322; Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA.
Kimberly E
KE
Applegate
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003479:Curriculum; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006283:Health Physics / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017751:Safety Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
Knowledge; medical education; radiation safety; radioprotective equipment; resident