Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 3 ), 189 – 196 © SFRP , 2024 https :// doi . org / 10.1051 / radiopro / 2024014
Available online at : www . radioprotection . org
ARTICLE
Radiographers ’ attitudes toward the principles of patient radiation protection in the Souss Massa region of Morocco
M . El Fahssi 1 ,* , S . Semghouli 2 , B . Amaoui 3 , J . Elkhalladi 1 , M Çaoui 4 and L . Jroundi 1
1 Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy , Mohammed V University , Rabat , Morocco . 2 Team Health Techniques ( ETechS ), Research Laboratory in Health and Environmental Sciences ( LabReSSE ), Higher Institute of
Nursing Professions and Health Techniques ( ISPITS ), Agadir , Morocco . 3 Biotechnology and Medicine ( BioMed ) Laboratory , Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy , Ibn Zohr University , Agadir , Morocco . 4 Sheikh Khalifa International University Hospital , Mohamed VI University of Health Sciences Casablanca .
Received : 13 November 2023 / Accepted : 29 March 2024
Abstract – Introduction : Radiographers play a vital role in patient radiation protection . Their training , supervision , and involvement in radiation protection programmes require greater attention from all stakeholders . Methods : This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and August 2023 to assess Radiographers ’ attitudes toward the principles of patient radiation protection in the Souss Massa region of Morocco . An anonymous questionnaire containing 22 questions was sent to 80 radiographers practicing in the Sous Massa region . Results : 67.5 % of the radiographers confirmed that they did not use a guide to radiological procedures . 85 % of them confirmed that they had checked for the possibility of pregnancy each time a woman of childbearing age was involved in a conventional X-ray , compared with 97.5 % who checked for the possibility of pregnancy in a CT scan . 97.5 % of our participants said that they automatically ( without medical advice ) repeated the X-ray examination if the image was not interpretable . 90 % of radiographers said that they did not report parameters for dose estimation for each conventional X- ray examination , and 72.5 % did not report data for dose estimation for CT-scan examinations . The results showed no association between gender and professional experience on the one hand and radiographers ’ practices on the other . Nevertheless , there is an association between the workplace and certain radiographers ’ practices , indicating the lack of a regional strategy aimed at standardizing procedures and radiation protection practices at the level of all radiology departments . Conclusion : It is vital to launch a patient dose management program in the Souss Massa region and campaigns to raise radiographers ’ awareness of recommended patient radiation protection practices .
Keywords : Radiation protection / radiation dose / computed tomography / radiography / safety standard
1 Introduction
Ionising radiation has many beneficial applications in a number of fields , including medical diagnosis . However , the risks associated with its use must be assessed and , if necessary , controlled ( IAEA , 2014 ).
Medical exposure to ionizing radiation represents the largest contribution to population dose from artificial sources , and diagnostic X-rays make up the majority of this contribution ( approximately 90 %) due to the increasing number of X-ray examinations carried out each year ( IAEA , 2007 ).
* Corresponding author : elfahssi . mohamed @ gmail . com
In addition , direct epidemiological evidence has been demonstrated linking exposure to ionising radiation to the risk of radiation-induced cancer ( ICRP , 1999 ). In this context , the results of the Life Span Study ( 1950 – 1990 ) showed that 334 of the 7,578 people who died of solid tumours could be attributed to exposure to ionising radiation ( United Nation , 2000 ).
This situation demonstrates the importance of justification and optimisation as two essential principles of radiological protection in medical imaging . The principle of justification means that the individual or societal benefit resulting from medical exposure to ionising radiation must be sufficient to compensate for the harm caused . The principle of optimisation means that individual doses of exposure must be kept as low as reasonably achievable , considering economic and societal factors ( ICRP , 2007 ).