Understanding Radiation Safety Culture Amongst Non-Radiology Department Clinicians

This project aims to interrogate the understanding of Radiation Safety amongst non-Radiology department surgeons and clinicians, and in doing so, gain a deeper understanding of Radiation Safety Culture amongst this staff group.

Previous research and anecdotal evidence has shown that clinicians not based within an imaging department, tend to have limited understanding of the use of ionising radiation, including knowledge of the appropriate legislation such as IRR and IR(ME)R, and the practical aspects of ionising radiation’s usage. This is compounded by a lack of legal requirements for these clinicians to undergo radiation safety training, and a significant amount of research regarding staff radiation dose from other countries, which may not be relevant to radiation safety in the UK.

Methodology includes both qualitative and quantitative methods: procedure observations of non-Radiology departments including lithotripsy, GI physiology, plastics, endoscopy, and orthopaedics, broad questionnaires on Radiation Safety Culture within the UK, semi-structured London-based staff interviews with key stakeholders in non-Radiology departments, dose estimates from patient imaging, dose audits, and envionmental dose monitoring. If successful, this project will inform NHS Trusts across the UK on how to engage these often overlooked staff groups appropriately in Radiation Safety Culture, by highlighting areas of best practice across London and the rest of the UK.

The project aims to improve awareness of Radiation Safety amongst all clinicians who work with ionising radiation without the benefits of a trained radiology team and radiographers, potentially leading to improved image quality, lower patient radiation doses, and better patient outcomes. In addition, it is hoped that overall feelings of wellbeing and reassurance on the usage of ionising radiation will be felt amongst its users.