Knowledge of radiation doses, risks and protection among radiographers and referring physicians in Singapore General Hospital

Extensive research underscores the persistent problem of unwarranted ionising radiation exposure in healthcare institutions, which can lead to detrimental effects such as cancer on the body . Studies have demonstrated a lack of knowledge and emphasis on radiation education among radiographers and referring physicians . In Turkey, a study revealed that 24.6% of physicians requested CT scans for patients without justified clinical indications. Another study in Italy found that despite 90% of radiographers stating to have sufficient awareness of radiation protection issues, most of them underestimated the radiation dose of almost all radiological procedures. Notably, such studies haven't been conducted locally in Singapore, warranting this work that aims to gather pilot data evaluating radiation knowledge among referring physicians and radiographers. This study revealed a lack of radiation knowledge among radiographers and referring physicians which is concerning due to its implications on radiation safety. The lack of radiation knowledge increases the risk of overexposing patients to ionising radiation, therefore, increasing their risk of harmful adverse effects. Since it is both radiographers’ and referring physicians’ responsibilities to keep patients’ exposure to ionising radiation to a minimum, it is essential that knowledge gaps are addressed through appropriate measures to ensure radiation safety for patients and personnel are guaranteed.