scholarly journals Knowledge on Irradiation, Medical Imaging Prescriptions, and Clinical Imaging Referral Guidelines among Physicians in a Sub-Saharan African Country (Cameroon)

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boniface Moifo ◽  
Ulrich Tene ◽  
Jean Roger Moulion Tapouh ◽  
Odette Samba Ngano ◽  
Justine Tchemtchoua Youta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Decision ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Radiation Doses ◽  
Imaging Procedures ◽  
Clinical Imaging ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Imaging Referral Guidelines ◽  
Effects Of Radiation ◽  
Referring Physicians ◽  
Routine Imaging

Background. Clinical imaging guidelines (CIGs) are suitable tools to enhance justification of imaging procedures. Objective. To assess physicians’ knowledge on irradiation, their self-perception of imaging prescriptions, and the use of CIGs. Materials and Methods. A questionnaire of 21 items was self-administered between July and August 2016 to 155 referring physicians working in seven university-affiliated hospitals in Yaoundé and Douala (Cameroon). This pretested questionnaire based on imaging referral practices, the use and the need of CIGs, knowledge on radiation doses of 11 specific radiologic procedures, and knowledge of injurious effects of radiation was completed in the presence of the investigator. Scores were allocated for each question. Results. 155 questionnaires were completed out of 180 administered (86.1%). Participants were 90 (58%) females, 63 (40.64%) specialists, 53 (34.20%) residents/interns, and 39 (25.16%) general practitioners. The average professional experience was 7.4 years (1–25 years). The mean knowledge score was 11.5/59 with no influence of sex, years of experience, and professional category. CIGs users’ score was better than nonusers (means 14.2 versus 10.6; p<0.01). 80% of physicians (124/155) underrated radiation doses of routine imaging exams. Seventy-eight (50.3%) participants have knowledge on CIGs and half of them made use of them. “Impact on diagnosis” was the highest justification criteria follow by “impact on treatment decision.” Unjustified requests were mainly for “patient expectation or will” or for “research motivations.” 96% of interviewees believed that making available national CIGs will improve justification. Conclusion. Most physicians did not have appropriate awareness about radiation doses for routine imaging procedures. A small number of physicians have knowledge on CIGs but they believe that making available CIGs will improve justification of imaging procedures. Continuous trainings on radiation protection and implementation of national CIGs are therefore recommended.

Awareness of radiation doses and risks among radiology residents, fellows, specialists, consultants and technologists in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Study. (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bashayer Hassan Shuaib ◽  
Rahaf Hisham Niazi ◽  
Ahmed Haitham Abduljabbar ◽  
Mohammed Abdulraheem Wazzan
Keyword(s):  
Interventional Radiology ◽  
Ionizing Radiation ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
P Value ◽  
Radiation Doses ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Right ◽  
Interventional Radiology Procedures ◽  
Radiology Staff

BACKGROUND Radiology now plays a major role to diagnose, monitoring, and management of several diseases; numerous diagnostic and interventional radiology procedures involve exposure to ionizing radiation. Radiology now plays a major role to diagnose, monitoring, and management of several diseases; numerous diagnostic and interventional radiology procedures involve exposure to ionizing radiation. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to discover and compare the awareness level of radiation doses, protection issues, and risks among radiology staff in Jeddah hospitals. METHODS A cross-sectional survey containing 25 questions on personal information and various aspects of radiation exposure doses and risks was designed using an online survey tool and the link was emailed to all radiology staff in eight tertiary hospitals in Jeddah. The authors were excluded from the study. A P-value of < .05 was used to identify statistical significance. All analyses were performed using SPSS, version 21. RESULTS Out of 156 participants the majority 151 (96.8%) had poor knowledge score, where the mean scores were 2.4±1.3 for doses knowledge, 2.1±1.1for cancer risks knowledge, 2.3±0.6 for general information, and 6.7±1.9 for the total score. Only 34.6% of the participants were aware of the dosage of a single-view chest x-ray, and 9.0% chose the right answer for the approximate effective dose received by a patient in a two-view. 42.9% were able to know the correct dose of CT abdomen single phase. There is a significant underestimation of cancer risk of CT studies especially for CT abdomen where only 23.7% knew the right risk. A p-value of <0.05 was used to identify statistical significance. No significant difference of knowledge score was detected regarding gender (P =.2) or work position (P=.66). CONCLUSIONS Our survey results show considerable inadequate knowledge in all groups without exception. We recommended a conscientious effort to deliver more solid education and obtain more knowledge in these matters and providing periodic training courses to teach how to minimize the dose of radiation and to avoid risk related. CLINICALTRIAL not applicable

scholarly journals Der Einfluß von Röntgenstrahlen auf Ophryotrocha puerilis

1965 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 350-355
Author(s):  
A. L. Grierson ◽  
H. Querner
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Radiation Dose ◽  
Total Dose ◽  
Growth Zone ◽  
Radiation Doses ◽  
Effects Of Radiation ◽  
Sexually Mature

The polychaet, Ophryotrodia puerilis, which is easily bred in the laboratory, lends itself well to research on the effects of radiation on invertebrates. Growth, which depends on the activity of a growth zone, is accomplished by the addition of segments. It is, therefore, easily recorded quantitatively. Radiation doses up to 100,000 r (3335 r/min) were used. The effect of the radiation depends on the size of animal. In animals of 20 segments the LD 50/30 dose is about 50,000 r; in animals of 10 segments doses of 20,000 r and greater completely inhibit growth, and doses of 10,000 r inhibit the growth of smaller animals. Animals with 10 segments slight retardation of growth after 5,000 and 10,000 r, while the smaller animals do not grow after 10,000 r of radiation and have their growth significantly retarded by 5,000 r. — Eggs laid by sexually mature females treated with 50,000 r fail to develop. After 20,000 and 10,000 r the eggs laid in the first 10 days do not develop but eggs exposed later are capable of develpoment. Animals of 10 segments are fertile after 10,000 r but sterile after 20,000 r. — Fractionation of the radiation dose decreases the mortality rate and, with a total dose of 20,000 r, allows growth. — Irradiation of eggs has an effect that is dependent on the age of the embryo. Up to 9 days 1000 r are lethal; from 10 days on 2000 r have no effect on development. Irradiation with 500 r shows no effect, while two 250 r increments of dose given 48 hours apart kill eggs 2 — 10 days old.

scholarly journals The abscopal effect 67 years later: from a side story to center stage

2020 ◽  
Vol 93 (1109) ◽  
pp. 20200042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Demaria ◽  
Silvia C Formenti
Keyword(s):  
Normal Tissue ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Ionising Radiation ◽  
Radiation Doses ◽  
Abscopal Effect ◽  
Rare Occurrence ◽  
Cytotoxic Effects ◽  
Normal Tissue Toxicity ◽  
Canonical Pathways ◽  
Effects Of Radiation

For over a century, ionising radiation has been used to treat cancer based on its cytotoxic effects on tumour cells. Technical progress has enabled more precise targeting of the tumour to reduce normal tissue toxicity while delivering higher radiation doses per fraction of treatment. In 1953, unexpected regression in lesions outside of the irradiated field were noted by an observant physician, RH Mole, who named such phenomenon “abscopal effect” from the Latin ab (position away from) and scopus (mark or target), in an article published in this journal. Clinical abscopal responses have been reported over the years but because of their very rare occurrence they could not be methodically studied, remaining akin to a curiosity. Nevertheless, their occurrence has ignited interest in studying the systemic effects of radiotherapy. Progress in dissecting the mechanisms that govern the function of the immune system in cancer has enabled to study the implication of immunity in the abscopal effect of radiation. It has become clear that ionising radiation activates canonical pathways of response to viral infections, and can stimulate antitumour immunity. These immune stimulatory effects of radiation have become clinically relevant in the current era of cancer immunotherapy, rendering abscopal responses in patients an attainable aim. Here, we will briefly review the parallel evolutions of two separate fields of medicine, radiation therapy and cancer immunology, and discuss their therapeutic partnership.

Informed Choice Assistance for Women Making Uterine Fibroid Treatment Decisions: A Practical Clinical Trial

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 444-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif I. Solberg ◽  
Stephen E. Asche ◽  
Karen Sepucha ◽  
N. Marcus Thygeson ◽  
Joan E. Madden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Uterine Fibroid ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Treatment Decision ◽  
Informed Choice ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Support Intervention ◽  
Decision Support Intervention ◽  
Mailed Survey

Background. There is limited evidence about how to ensure that patients are helped to make informed medical care decisions. Objective. To test a decision support intervention for uterine fibroid treatments. Design and Setting. Practical clinical trial to test informed choice assistance in 4 randomly assigned gynecology clinics compared to 5 others providing a pamphlet. Patients. Three hundred women facing a treatment decision for fibroids over a 13-month period. Intervention. Mailed DVD and brochure about fibroid treatments plus the Ottawa decision guide and an offer of counseling soon after an index visit. Measurements. Mailed survey 6 to 8 weeks later asking about knowledge, preferences, and satisfaction with decision support. Results. In total, 244 surveys were completed for an adjusted response rate of 85.4%. On a 5-point scale, intervention subjects reported more treatment options being mentioned (3.0 v. 2.4), had a higher knowledge score (3.3 v. 2.8), and were more likely to report being adequately informed (4.4 v. 4.0), and their decision was both more satisfactory (4.3 v. 4.0) and more consistent with their personal values (4.5 v. 4.2). Neither knowledge nor use of the intervention was associated with greater concordance between preferences and decisions. Limitations. Implementation of intervention may not have been well timed to the decision for some patients, limiting their use of the materials and counseling. Conclusion. It is difficult to integrate structured decision support consistently into practice. Decision support for benign uterine conditions showed effects on knowledge and satisfaction but not on concordance.

scholarly journals An assessment of medical students’ proficiency regarding the hazards of radiological examinations on the health of workers and patients: a cross-sectional study from Palestine

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Awadghanem ◽  
Mahmoud Sbaih ◽  
Mohammad Hasoon ◽  
Zaher Yassin ◽  
Ahmad M. Samara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Radiation Exposure ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Radiological Examination ◽  
Radiation Doses ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adequate Knowledge

Abstract Background The use of radiological examination is increasing worldwide. Since radiation exposure can result in many health hazards, medical professionals, as well as medical students, should possess adequate knowledge regarding radiation and its related hazards to protect themselves and the patients. Many studies have assessed medical students’ knowledge on this topic, but never in Palestine. In this study, we aimed to examine Palestinian medical students’ awareness and knowledge regarding radiological examination modalities and their risks on themselves and their patients. Methods This was an observational, cross-sectional, population-based study, conducted to assess the awareness of radiation exposure and its risks among Palestinian medical students. An online questionnaire was implemented on medical students at An-Najah National University. A total knowledge score that ranged from 0 to 22 was calculated for each participant, with higher scores indicating better knowledge regarding radiation doses and the related hazards. Results Two hundred eighty and seven students participated in our study, with a response rate of 71%. The average knowledge score of the participants was 10.97 ± 4.31 out of a maximum of 22 points. Male participants and participants in advanced study years achieved better knowledge scores (p-values were 0.034 and < 0.001, respectively). Perceived radiology knowledge was significantly associated with the actual knowledge score among the participants (p-value< 0.001). Receiving radiology lectures in fourth and fifth years significantly affected the participants’ knowledge score (p-values were < 0.001). Conclusions We found a severe lack of knowledge regarding radiation doses and related risks among medical students. Therefore, we recommend that medical schools update and supplement their curriculum regarding knowledge on radiation.

scholarly journals Referring Physicians’ Knowledge on Justification of Medical Exposure in Diagnostic Imaging in a Sub-Saharan African Country, Cameroon

2014 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. 60-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boniface Moifo ◽  
Annick Laure Edzimbi ◽  
Haoua Tebere ◽  
Joshua Tambe ◽  
Richard Ndi Samba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Imaging ◽  
African Country ◽  
Medical Exposure ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Referring Physicians

scholarly journals The Role of the Radiation Safety Officer in Patient Safety

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Morgan ◽  
Sandy Konerth
Keyword(s):  
Human Error ◽  
Radiation Safety ◽  
Senior Management ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Radiation Doses ◽  
Imaging Procedures ◽  
The Public ◽  
Safety Officer ◽  
Radiation Exposure To Patients

The role of the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) is to prevent unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation and maintain necessary exposures as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). The RSO is delegated broad authority throughout the organization by senior management. This authority includes permission to stop unsafe practices and identifying radiation protection problems, initiating, recommending, or providing corrective actions and verifying implementation of these actions. For the most part, these efforts are focused on maintaining radiation doses to employees and the public ALARA. Regulations do not address a role for the RSO in reducing radiation exposure to patients, except when unnecessary exposure is suspected due to equipment malfunction or human error. There is increasing concern about the risks of cancer and other effects from the use of medical imaging procedures. This chapter will discuss the tools and resources available to the RSO to educate members of the medical community and senior management on the need to manage radiation doses to patients so that the physician is able to obtain information necessary to properly diagnose and treat patients while avoiding unnecessary exposure.

scholarly journals Radioprotection by curcumin: A mini review

2021 ◽  
pp. 24-33
Author(s):  
P Sruthi ◽  
M M Naidu
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Normal Cell ◽  
The Body ◽  
Radiation Doses ◽  
Surrounding Area ◽  
Normal Cells ◽  
Effects Of Radiation ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Ionizing Radiations ◽  
Harmful Effects

Ionizing radiations are detrimental to the biological system. Exposure to ionizing radiations results in many chronic diseases including cancer. It may cause dysfunctions to almost all organs of the body depending on the total dose, duration and site of irradiation. Apart from its bad effect, radiotherapy is now extensively used for the treatment of several kinds of cancers. Still, the key disadvantage in the procedure is that normal cell, in the surrounding area of the tumor, also receiving radiation doses similar to the tumor, leads to undesirable side effects and risk to patients. Curcumin has been found to protect harmful effects of ionizing radiation. So, it can be beneficial during radiotherapy of cancer. Curcumin helps to kill tumor cells effectively by enhancing the effect of radiation. It also protects normal cells against the harmful effects of radiation. Pre clinical studies are expected to lead to clinical trials to prove the potential of this age-old golden spice for treating cancer patients. This review summarizes the protective effect of curcumin against harmful radiations.

Effects of radiation dose and nitrogen purge on collagen scaffold properties

2021 ◽  
pp. 088532822110476
Author(s):  
Nicholas J Sant ◽  
Benedikt L Proffen ◽  
Martha M Murray
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Dose ◽  
Enzymatic Degradation ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Collagen Scaffold ◽  
Radiation Doses ◽  
Collagen Scaffolds ◽  
Banding Patterns ◽  
Soluble Collagen ◽  
Mass Fractions ◽  
Effects Of Radiation

Sterilization of medical devices is commonly performed using radiation methods. However, collagen materials can be damaged when using standard radiation doses (25 kGy). Small increases of radiation dose can allow for increases in the acceptable initial bioburden load of aseptically manufactured devices while maintaining required sterility assurance levels, which is often critical in early stage translational settings. In this study, we hypothesized that small increases in radiation dose from 15 to 20 kGy would result in significant changes to several key characteristics of collagen scaffolds. Scaffolds were manufactured by lyophilizing the pepsin digest of dense bovine connective tissue in cylindrical molds and were irradiated at either 0, 15, 17.5, or 20 kGy with an additional group packaged in nitrogen and irradiated at 17.5 kGy. Groups were evaluated for changes to the soluble collagen and glycosaminoglycan mass fractions, protein banding patterns in electrophoresis, a collagen fragmentation assay, and resistance to enzymatic degradation. All parameters were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s correction for multiple comparisons. The soluble collagen mass fraction was significantly decreased in the 20 kGy group; however, there was no significant effect of radiation dose or a nitrogen-rich environment on the other measured parameters, including protein banding patterns, fragmented collagen content, and resistance to enzymatic degradation. Statement of Clinical Significance: Collagen scaffolds have proven useful in clinical applications but can be damaged by standard radiation doses. Low-dose sterilization may be a viable alternative that minimally impacts key properties of these scaffolds.

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