Radiation dose and radiation protection principle awareness: A survey among Nigerian Paediatricians

Aims and Objectives : This study is aimed at determining the knowledge of Paediatricians in Nigeria about the basic principle of radiation protection ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) and their knowledge of the radiation doses that children receive during some common radiological procedures....

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: O C Famurewa, P O Obiajunwa, J B Elusiyan, B O Ibitoye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-01-01
Series:Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.npmj.org/article.asp?issn=1117-1936;year=2014;volume=21;issue=1;spage=28;epage=33;aulast=Famurewa
_version_ 1819281916969353216
author O C Famurewa
P O Obiajunwa
J B Elusiyan
B O Ibitoye
author_facet O C Famurewa
P O Obiajunwa
J B Elusiyan
B O Ibitoye
author_sort O C Famurewa
collection DOAJ
description Aims and Objectives : This study is aimed at determining the knowledge of Paediatricians in Nigeria about the basic principle of radiation protection ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) and their knowledge of the radiation doses that children receive during some common radiological procedures. Materials and methods : Two hundred and fifty questionnaires were circulated among paediatricians at the 2012 annual Paediatricians′ Association of Nigeria Conference. The questionnaires contain 10 questions designed to asses the pediatricians′ general knowledge on : ionising radiation and the risks, doses children receive during some common radiological procedures and awareness of the radiation protection principle, ALARA ( As Low As Reasonably Achievable). Results : Of the162 Paediatrcians that participated, 69% named at least one non medical source of ionising radiation, 54.9% would not recommend CXR to screen an apparently healthy child for tuberculosis and 87% believe that children are at greater risk of adverse effects of ionising radiation. For dose estimation, 51.9% and 51.2% of the paediatricians underestimated doses received during Cranial and abdominal computerised tomography respectively while 13.6% and 37% respectively erroneously believed that abdominal ultrasound and brain magnetic resonance imaging utilise ionising radiation. 13.6% gave the correct meaning of the Acronym ALARA. Conclusions : The Paediatricians′ knowledge about the basic principle of radiation protection ALARA and the doses that children receive during some common radiological procedures is poor. There is need to ensure adequate training on radiation hazards and protection at all levels of medical education.
first_indexed 2024-12-24T01:07:18Z
format Article
id doaj.art-991860bd35af416ea51de7185deb4ff6
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1117-1936
2468-6875
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-24T01:07:18Z
publishDate 2014-01-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal
spelling doaj.art-991860bd35af416ea51de7185deb4ff62022-12-21T17:23:08ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsNigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal1117-19362468-68752014-01-012112833Radiation dose and radiation protection principle awareness: A survey among Nigerian PaediatriciansO C FamurewaP O ObiajunwaJ B ElusiyanB O IbitoyeAims and Objectives : This study is aimed at determining the knowledge of Paediatricians in Nigeria about the basic principle of radiation protection ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) and their knowledge of the radiation doses that children receive during some common radiological procedures. Materials and methods : Two hundred and fifty questionnaires were circulated among paediatricians at the 2012 annual Paediatricians′ Association of Nigeria Conference. The questionnaires contain 10 questions designed to asses the pediatricians′ general knowledge on : ionising radiation and the risks, doses children receive during some common radiological procedures and awareness of the radiation protection principle, ALARA ( As Low As Reasonably Achievable). Results : Of the162 Paediatrcians that participated, 69% named at least one non medical source of ionising radiation, 54.9% would not recommend CXR to screen an apparently healthy child for tuberculosis and 87% believe that children are at greater risk of adverse effects of ionising radiation. For dose estimation, 51.9% and 51.2% of the paediatricians underestimated doses received during Cranial and abdominal computerised tomography respectively while 13.6% and 37% respectively erroneously believed that abdominal ultrasound and brain magnetic resonance imaging utilise ionising radiation. 13.6% gave the correct meaning of the Acronym ALARA. Conclusions : The Paediatricians′ knowledge about the basic principle of radiation protection ALARA and the doses that children receive during some common radiological procedures is poor. There is need to ensure adequate training on radiation hazards and protection at all levels of medical education.http://www.npmj.org/article.asp?issn=1117-1936;year=2014;volume=21;issue=1;spage=28;epage=33;aulast=Famurewachildrenradiation dosepaediatriciansalararisk awareness
spellingShingle O C Famurewa
P O Obiajunwa
J B Elusiyan
B O Ibitoye
Radiation dose and radiation protection principle awareness: A survey among Nigerian Paediatricians
Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal
children
radiation dose
paediatricians
alara
risk awareness
title Radiation dose and radiation protection principle awareness: A survey among Nigerian Paediatricians
title_full Radiation dose and radiation protection principle awareness: A survey among Nigerian Paediatricians
title_fullStr Radiation dose and radiation protection principle awareness: A survey among Nigerian Paediatricians
title_full_unstemmed Radiation dose and radiation protection principle awareness: A survey among Nigerian Paediatricians
title_short Radiation dose and radiation protection principle awareness: A survey among Nigerian Paediatricians
title_sort radiation dose and radiation protection principle awareness a survey among nigerian paediatricians
topic children
radiation dose
paediatricians
alara
risk awareness
url http://www.npmj.org/article.asp?issn=1117-1936;year=2014;volume=21;issue=1;spage=28;epage=33;aulast=Famurewa
work_keys_str_mv AT ocfamurewa radiationdoseandradiationprotectionprincipleawarenessasurveyamongnigerianpaediatricians
AT poobiajunwa radiationdoseandradiationprotectionprincipleawarenessasurveyamongnigerianpaediatricians
AT jbelusiyan radiationdoseandradiationprotectionprincipleawarenessasurveyamongnigerianpaediatricians
AT boibitoye radiationdoseandradiationprotectionprincipleawarenessasurveyamongnigerianpaediatricians