Awareness of radiation hazards in patients attending radiology departments

Evaluating the knowledge of patients attending radiology departments regarding ionizing radiation used in medical imaging and its associated hazards can provide knowledge of the patient's awareness level of the associated risk of the radiation used in medical imaging. The aims of this study were to evaluate the awareness of patients regarding medical radiation types used in medical diagnostic imaging and its influence on their decision to proceed with that procedure. Over an 8-months period, a total of 418 patients, 48% Men and 52% Women, presenting for diagnostic imaging in the department of radiology, completed a 15-point questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic and radiation awareness sections. Less than 32% of the participants had a potential risk of radiation explained by the doctor before the procedure. 59% of the participants expressed that the potential risk of radiation makes them anxious; less than about 25% of the participants showed that the potential risk of radiation affects their decision to have the procedure. Overall, the data collected from this survey indicate that there is a lack of information about radiation risk provided to the patients prior to the diagnostic procedure. Efforts should be made to ensure that patients receiving multiple medical imaging tests are aware of the radiation they are receiving.