M . El Fahssi et al .: Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 3 ), 189 – 196 193
Table 2 . ( continued ).
Questions Proposals Answers P-value Gender professional experience
Q13 . In CT-scan , do you have a written protocol for each CT-scan protocol ? Q14 . In CT-scan , do you ask about a possible pregnancy whenever a woman of childbearing age is involved ? Q15 . Do you adapt CT-scan protocols according to the patient ’ s age and weight ?
Q16 . In CT-scan , do you adapt the acquisition parameters ( kV , mAs ) to the patient ’ s morphology ?
Q17 . Do you systematically check the value of the computed tomography dose index ( CTDI ) before starting the acquisition ? Q18 . Do you report information about the dose estimate for CT-scan examinations , such as the dose length product DLP and the computed tomography dose index CTDI , on the register or in another medium ? Q19 . Select your attitude towards dose optimisation in pediatric conventional radiology from the following choices :
Q20 . Select your attitude towards dose optimisation in pediatric CT-scan from the following choices
Q21 . Have you received basic training in patient radiation protection ? Q22 . Have you received ongoing training in patient radiation protection ?
Yes No Yes No
Always Often Sometimes Never Always Often Sometimes Never Always Often Sometimes Never Always Often Sometimes Never
36 ( 45.0 ) 44 ( 55.0 ) 78 ( 97.5 ) 2 ( 2.5 )
38 ( 47.5 ) 18 ( 22.5 ) 12 ( 15.0 ) 12 ( 15.0 ) 34 ( 42.5 ) 10 ( 12.5 ) 24 ( 30.0 ) 12 ( 15.0 ) 8 ( 10.0 ) 12 ( 15.0 ) 14 ( 17.5 ) 26 ( 57.5 ) 4 ( 5.0 ) 4 ( 5.0 ) 14 ( 17.5 ) 58 ( 72.5 )
Worksite
0.013 0.350 0.685 0.150
0.357 0.454 0.001
0.395 0.127 0.001
0.803 0.431 0.662
0.802 0.577 0.395
I choose the exposure parameters ( kV , |
80 ( 100 ) |
mAs ) according to the child ’ s age and weight |
|
|
|
|
I use manual and luminous centring , |
56 ( 70 ) |
0.885 |
0.011 |
0.155 |
and avoid fluoroscopy |
|
|
|
|
I limit X-ray exposure to the area to be |
76 ( 95 ) |
0.533 |
0.899 |
0.279 |
examined |
|
|
|
|
I minimise the number of X-ray images |
64 ( 92.5 ) |
0.137 |
0.894 |
0.543 |
taken |
|
|
|
|
I use radiation protection equipment appropriate to the age of the child ( thyroid and gonad shield ) |
30 ( 37.5 ) |
0.736 |
0.035 |
0.249 |
I use age-appropriate restraints |
54 ( 67.5 ) |
0.316 |
0.542 |
0.774 |
I adjust the exposure parameters |
54 ( 67.5 ) |
0.316 |
0.644 |
0.472 |
according to the child ’ s age , weight and |
|
|
|
|
height |
|
|
|
|
I use specific pediatric CT-scan |
56 ( 70 ) |
0.885 |
0.011 |
0.776 |
protocols |
|
|
|
|
I limit the volume to be irradiated |
72 ( 90 ) |
0.658 |
0.725 |
0.856 |
I consult the reference levels in terms of PDL and CTDI before each new acquisition |
4 ( 5 ) |
0.648 |
0.899 |
0.750 |
Yes No Yes No
74 ( 92.5 ) 6 ( 7.5 ) 4 ( 5.0 ) 76 ( 95.0 )
0.186 0.062 0.769 0.287 0.459 0.033
Massa region have revealed alarming dose levels for several conventional radiological examinations ( El Fahssi et al ., 2023 ) and CT scan protocols ( Semghouli et al ., 2022 , 2024a ).
One possible reason for the lack of knowledge about patient radiation protection among radiographers is that radiation protection courses are rarely offered in universities ( Aldhafeeri , 2020 ). In fact , only one radiation protection course is given to students during their training at Morocco ’ s nursing and technical health institutes , which are responsible for training most radiographers working in the public sector .