Elena Scali MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

John R. Mayo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Speaker, Siemens AG

Savvas Nicolaou MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Silvia D. Chang MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The radiology component of the undergraduate medical curriculum at our institution aims to provide medical students, as future practitioners, with broad-based knowledge about commonly performed imaging studies. The purpose of this study is to investigate senior medical students’ awareness of radiation exposures from common diagnostic imaging studies as well as radiation risks.

The study population consisted of medical students in their final year at our institution. An anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire was distributed. Questions were designed to assess knowledge of radiation from common diagnostic procedures and radiation-related risks.

48 eligible medical students responded. The majority of students felt that knowledge of the radiation dose of common imaging examinations is somewhat or very important (98%). However, only 6% of students routinely discussed radiation-related risks with patients when recommending imaging examinations. 85% of students recognized that CT is most responsible for medical radiation received by the population. While almost all recognized children as most sensitive to the effects of radiation, only 35% correctly identified gonads as the most radiation-sensitive tissue. 30% correctly identified the absolute dose (in milliSieverts) of a chest x-ray and relative dose compared to background radiation. The proportion of students able to correctly identify the relative dose of common imaging studies in chest x-ray equivalents varied from 26-65%; the remainder underestimated the dose received by the patient. Approximately half of the student correctly identified the risk of inducing a fatal cancer from an abdominal CT in an adult; the remainder underestimated this risk.

Medical students acknowledge the importance of radiation-related issues to patient care. While almost all students are familiar with radiation-free modalities, many students are not familiar with, and commonly underestimate, the relative doses and risks of medical radiation. This may expose patients to increasing imaging investigations and exposure to radiation hazards.

Medical students commonly underestimate radiation-related doses and risks, and would do well to receive further instruction on the radiation-related hazards of commonly performed imaging studies.

Scali, E, Mayo, J, Nicolaou, S, Chang, S, Senior Medical Students’ Awareness of Radiation Risks from Common Diagnostic Imaging Examinations.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14019693.html