Radiation Protection Practice In Digital Radiography In Eastern Cape Government Hospitals

Abstract

Radiation protection plays a vital role in radiography and it is necessary to ensure the safety of all patients and staff when exposed to ionising radiation. An understanding of ionising radiation and its effects are therefore of high importance in protecting the patient from unnecessary radiation exposure, a professional issue every radiographer should be conscientious of (Carroll, 2011: 699). The basis of radiation protection revolves around ensuring that exposures to ionising radiation should be kept As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA). Radiographers are required by law to provide effective and adequate radiation protection measures to all patients at all times. The aim of the research study was to investigate radiation protection practices in digital radiography during chest and lumbar spine radiographic examinations in two Eastern Cape government hospitals and to address possible gaps in the radiographers‟ awareness of radiation protection using digital x-ray equipment by making recommendations. The objectives were: to establish the awareness of diagnostic radiographers regarding effective radiation protection through a survey; to determine whether effective radiation protection was applied by diagnostic radiographers through a checklist compiled from literature completed by patients; and to determine whether the technical aspects of effective radiation protection were applied by diagnostic radiographers through a radiographic image checklist completed by three reviewers. Results showed that professionalism, poor communication, and poor radiation protection practice, were the identified key issues. The key issues showed that: LMP was not thoroughly performed thus revealing unethical and unprofessional behaviour; patient identification was not thoroughly performed hence pointing to poor communication; and poor radiation protection practice was evident through insufficient collimation, incorrect selection of exposure factors, incorrect positioning, and insufficient usage of lead anatomical markers.