An evaluation of radiology technologist experience with patient dose in the radiology department

Abstract EN

An evaluation study of x-ray image doses at the Public Hospital Radiological Department sought to determine the causes of the repeat/rejected images and how it is related to the staff expertise.

The reasoning behind this study was the maximization of patient safety from excess/unwarranted radiology doses at the department.

This article will help develop a mechanism for quality control for the department to make digital x-ray as safe as possible at the facility.

This study revealed that positioning error, machine problems, anatomy cutoff, artifacts, and body movement were the reasons for frequent repeat/reject x-ray procedures at the department.

This article revealed that these errors had a strong relationship with staff causes.

The leading cause of the errors coming up in the radiologic department is directly related to the radiology technologists' causes/competencies.

Technologists with less than eight years of experience were directly/indirectly responsible for 87.5% of repeat radiation procedures.

Technologists with over eight years of experience contributed to 12.4% of the repeat/rejected procedures.

This study recommends implementing quality control methods more aggressively and improving on-the-job staff training to protect patients from unnecessary radiation.