DOES RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION TRAINING OR A REAL-TIME STAFF DOSEMETER DISPLAY REDUCE STAFF DOSES DURING X-RAY-GUIDED PULMONARY BRONCHOSCOPY?

Abstract

X-ray-guided interventions have increased in number and complexity. Mandatory radiological protection training includes both theoretical and practical training sessions. A recent additional training tool is real-time display dosemeters that give direct feedback to staff on their individual dose rates. Ten staff members who regularly perform pulmonary bronchoscopy wore an extra dosemeter during four 2-month periods. We controlled for the patient air kerma area product and the number of procedures in each period. Between periods 1 and 2, radiological training sessions were held and during period 3 the staff used the real-time display system. Focus-group interviews with the staff were held to obtain their opinion about learning radiological protection. We hypothesised that neither training nor the additional real-time dose rate display alters the personal dose equivalent, Hp(d); d = 0.07 and 10 mm. Useful experiences from radiological protection training were obtained, and median staff doses did decrease, however not significantly.