Knowledge and practice of radiation safety in the Catherization laboratory among Interventional Cardiologists – An online survey
Ilayaraja Uthirapathy, Prabhakar Dorairaj, Sailatha Ravi, Shanmugasundaram Somasundaram
Abstract
An Online Survey among Interventional Cardiologists (IC) assessed the knowledge (five questions) and practice of radiation safety (eleven questions). Out of 185 respondents, knowledge of annual radiation dose (2% knew), LAO cranial view giving maximum radiation (48%) and benefit of assessment of radiation exposure with dose area product (31%) was limited. Radiation safety was practiced "whenever I remember" in 37-59%. Radiation safety practices were optimal frame rate selection (32%), distancing from x-ray unit (17%), collimation use (30%), positioning the image detector close to chest (91%) and personal dosimeters use (40%). A major gap exists between knowledge and practice of radiation safety.