Radiation safety requirements for training of users of diagnostic Xray equipment in South Africa

Background. Globally, the aim of requirements regarding the use and ownership of diagnostic medical X-ray equipment is to limit radiation by abiding by the ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ (ALARA) principle. The ignorance of radiographers with regard to radiation safety requirements, however, i...

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Main Authors: B van der Merwe, S Kruger, M Nel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: South African Medical Association 2017-09-01
Series:African Journal of Health Professions Education
Online Access:http://www.ajhpe.org.za/index.php/ajhpe/article/download/924/474
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author B van der Merwe
S Kruger
M Nel
author_facet B van der Merwe
S Kruger
M Nel
author_sort B van der Merwe
collection DOAJ
description Background. Globally, the aim of requirements regarding the use and ownership of diagnostic medical X-ray equipment is to limit radiation by abiding by the ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ (ALARA) principle. The ignorance of radiographers with regard to radiation safety requirements, however, is currently a cause of concern. The enhancement of the 4-year radiography curriculum leading to a Bachelor’s qualification provides an opportunity to explore the training and assessment to meet, among others, the ALARA principle, which addresses national and international concerns and criteria. Healthcare workers outside the scope of radiography, who are also considered radiation workers, may be even more ignorant and are therefore also implicated. The process of investigation included a contextualisation of the available regulation documents, the Delphi technique to determine the content of the training, and a questionnaire to test students’ knowledge before and after training.Objectives. To determine the content of the radiation safety requirements training and assessment to implement standardised teaching, learning activities and assessment to prepare radiographers as radiation workers well trained for practice.Methods. The content of the radiation safety requirements training was determined with the Delphi technique.Results. Consensus regarding the content of the radiography students’ training was reached and implemented. Furthermore, it guided the development of teaching and learning activities complemented by aligned assessment.Conclusion. Standardised education and assessment for radiation safety requirements have the potential to ensure that radiation safety regulations are implemented optimally in diagnostic imaging.
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spelling doaj.art-580de61da4ae480eb817bdab8db40f992024-02-02T23:11:32ZengSouth African Medical AssociationAfrican Journal of Health Professions Education2078-51272017-09-019312312710.7196/AJHPE.2017.v9i3.691Radiation safety requirements for training of users of diagnostic Xray equipment in South AfricaB van der MerweS KrugerM NelBackground. Globally, the aim of requirements regarding the use and ownership of diagnostic medical X-ray equipment is to limit radiation by abiding by the ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ (ALARA) principle. The ignorance of radiographers with regard to radiation safety requirements, however, is currently a cause of concern. The enhancement of the 4-year radiography curriculum leading to a Bachelor’s qualification provides an opportunity to explore the training and assessment to meet, among others, the ALARA principle, which addresses national and international concerns and criteria. Healthcare workers outside the scope of radiography, who are also considered radiation workers, may be even more ignorant and are therefore also implicated. The process of investigation included a contextualisation of the available regulation documents, the Delphi technique to determine the content of the training, and a questionnaire to test students’ knowledge before and after training.Objectives. To determine the content of the radiation safety requirements training and assessment to implement standardised teaching, learning activities and assessment to prepare radiographers as radiation workers well trained for practice.Methods. The content of the radiation safety requirements training was determined with the Delphi technique.Results. Consensus regarding the content of the radiography students’ training was reached and implemented. Furthermore, it guided the development of teaching and learning activities complemented by aligned assessment.Conclusion. Standardised education and assessment for radiation safety requirements have the potential to ensure that radiation safety regulations are implemented optimally in diagnostic imaging.http://www.ajhpe.org.za/index.php/ajhpe/article/download/924/474
spellingShingle B van der Merwe
S Kruger
M Nel
Radiation safety requirements for training of users of diagnostic Xray equipment in South Africa
African Journal of Health Professions Education
title Radiation safety requirements for training of users of diagnostic Xray equipment in South Africa
title_full Radiation safety requirements for training of users of diagnostic Xray equipment in South Africa
title_fullStr Radiation safety requirements for training of users of diagnostic Xray equipment in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Radiation safety requirements for training of users of diagnostic Xray equipment in South Africa
title_short Radiation safety requirements for training of users of diagnostic Xray equipment in South Africa
title_sort radiation safety requirements for training of users of diagnostic xray equipment in south africa
url http://www.ajhpe.org.za/index.php/ajhpe/article/download/924/474
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AT skruger radiationsafetyrequirementsfortrainingofusersofdiagnosticxrayequipmentinsouthafrica
AT mnel radiationsafetyrequirementsfortrainingofusersofdiagnosticxrayequipmentinsouthafrica