Evaluation of Moroccan physician’s knowledge about radiation doses and risks from pediatric computed tomography

Abstract

The large use of Computed Tomography Scan (CT scan) is a principal cause of increasing medical ionizing radiation exposure. Children are considered a population at risk for the occurrence of radiation-induced pathologies, and the implementation of radiation protection measures relies on the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals. This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to assess the knowledge of Moroccan physicians prescribing pediatric CT scan examinations on the radiation protection of patients, radiation doses, and potential health risks of radiation exposure from CT scan. A questionnaire was distributed to all clinicians on the medical staff who prescribe pediatric CT examinations in five Moroccan pediatric hospitals. The questions have a focusing on prescribers’ practices and their knowledge of patient radiation protection, radiation doses, the potential health risks of radiation exposure from CT scan, and training on radiation protection. One hundred and ninety-two questionnaires were submitted to prescribers and among them, 88% responded. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package of Microsoft Office Excel. Knowledge gaps regarding CT scan radiation doses and associated health risks among Moroccan physicians are evident from this study results, initial and continuing training of health care staff and the implementation of referral guidelines for medical imaging could lead to improve practitioners’ knowledge of patient radiation protection.

Un enjeu majeur de radioprotection en imagerie médicale

“…However, their use is also very variable according to the countries. Some countries such as Morocco are conducting important efforts to develop local DRLs (El Mansouri et al, 2022: El Fahssi et al, 2024, especially in the paediatric domain (Khajmi et al, 2023), while other countries are yet able to propose DRL analyses at the national level (Nassar et al, 2023). However, the necessary condition is that there are enough medical physicists available to develop theses DRLs!…”

Radiation exposure in routine mammography screening: a large observational cross-sectional study in Morocco

“…Although the assessment of ionizing radiation exposures of patients undergoing radiological examinations is recommended for dose optimization and benefit-risk assessment, few large studies have been published regarding the doses received by patients during mammography examinations in Morocco. Moreover, recent local studies, have brought attention to the critical importance of evaluating physicians' understanding of radiation doses and potential health risks and underscore the urgent need for enhanced training initiatives aimed at improving healthcare professionals' knowledge and practices (Tahiri et al, 2022).…”

La relation linéaire sans seuil (LNT) et l’évolution du système de radioprotection

“…While waiting for this revision of the ICRP recommendations, the LNT and the three main principles associated with, namely, the justification, the reduction and the limitation of exposures, highly fruitful in the management of exposures, shall continue to drive the actions of the radiation protection community. Thus, the optimization of medical exposure through the use of diagnostic reference levels (Talbi et al, 2022;El Mansouri et al, 2022;Nassar et al, 2023) especially for the most sensitive pediatric population (Bawazeer et al, 2022;Habib Geryes et al, 2022;Khajmi et al, 2023) should remain a priority, since medical exposures, as a mean, represent the first source of exposure for populations living in developed countries. We thus thank our authors who, through their publications, contribute to the evolution of the radiological protection system.…”