Evaluation of non-radiologist physicians' knowledge on aspects related to ionizing radiation in imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the non-radiologist physicians' knowledge on the use of ionizing radiation in imaging.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study utilizing an anonymous questionnaire responded by physicians in clinical and surgical specialties, divided into two parts as follows: one including questions about the physicians' characteristics, frequency of imaging studies requests and participation in professional updating events, and another part including multiple choice questions approaching general knowledge about radiation, optimization principles and radioprotection.


RESULTS
From a total of 309 questionnaires, 120 (38.8%) were responded, 50% by physicians in surgical specialties and 50% in clinical specialties; respectively 45% and 2.5% of physicians responded that magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography use ionizing radiation. Overall, the average grade was higher for surgical specialists with no significant difference, except for the question about exposure in pregnant women (p = 0.047). Physicians who are professionally updated, particularly those attending clinical meetings (p = 0.050) and participating in teaching activities (p = 0.047), showed statistically superior knowledge about ionizing radiation as compared with others.


CONCLUSIONS
The non-radiologist physicians' knowledge is heterogeneous and in some points needs to be improved. Multidisciplinary clinical meetings and teaching activities are important ways to disseminate information on the subject.
MD, Hospital Santa Helena, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
Renata Rodrigues
RR
Madrigano
Teacher and Assistant Academic Director, Escola de Medicina da Universidade Anhembi Morumbi, PhD, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Karen Cristine
KC
Abrão
Professor, Coordinator for Support to Teaching and Research, Department of Imaging Diagnosis, Escola Paulista de Medicina da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-Unifesp), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Andrea
A
Puchnick
Teacher of Morphology and Radiology and Imaging Diagnosis, School of Medicine - Universidade Anhembi Morumbi, MD, Pediatric Radiologist and Fellow Master degree, Department of Imaging Diagnosis, Escola Paulista de Medicina da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-Unifesp), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Rodrigo
R
Regacini
Imaging diagnosis; Ionizing radiation; Knowledge; Physicians; Questionnaire; Radiation protection