title: Perception of radiation dose and potential risks of computed tomography in emergency department medical personnel.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Use of computed tomography (CT) continues to increase, but the relatively high radiation doses associated with CT have raised health concerns such as future risk of cancer. We investigated the level of awareness regarding radiation doses and possible risks associated with CT in medical personnel (MP).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted from April to May 2012 and included physicians and nurses who worked in the emergency department of 17 training hospitals. The questionnaire included measurement of the effect of CT or radiography on health using a 10-point numerical rating scale, estimation of the radiation dose of one abdominal CT scan compared with one chest radiograph, and perception of the increased lifetime risk of cancer associated with CT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 354 MP participated in this study: 142 nurses, 87 interns, 86 residents, and 39 specialists. Interns were less aware of the effects of CT or radiography on health than other physicians or nurses (mean±SD of 4.8±2.7, 5.9±2.7, 6.1±2.7, and 6.0±2.2 for interns, residents, specialists, and nurses, respectively; P<0.05). There was a significant difference in knowledge about the relative radiation dose of one abdominal CT scan compared with one chest radiograph between physicians and nurses (48.6% vs. 28.9% for physicians vs. nurses, P<0.05). MP perceived an increased risk of cancer from radiation associated with CT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MP perceive the risk of radiation associated with CT, but their level of knowledge seems to be insufficient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyuseok
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Pyo
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Veterans Health Service Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chanjong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Changwoo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joong Eui
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rhee
keywords: Computed tomography; Perception; Radiation injuries