Does Wearing A Real-Time Visual Dosimeter Reduce the Personal Radiation Dose for Interventional Radiology Nurses? An Observational Comparative Study

What is already known about the topic
• Nurses working in interventional radiology suites can incur large cumulative radiation doses.
• Feedback on traditionally measured personal doses can be delayed by weeks.What this article adds
• Nurses can reduce personal radiation dose by using a real-time personal dosimeter
• Dose reduction is greater for scout nurses than scrub nurses using a real-time personal dosimeter

AimReal-time radiation dosimeters can provide visual display of personal radiation dose as it occurs, potentially providing nurses working in radiation environments with more understanding about their personal radiation protection and safety strategies. This comparative observational study aimed to evaluate if the wearing of a real-time dosimeter with visual display by nurses working in interventional radiology would reduce their personal radiation dose.Materials and methodsPersonal dose data were collected from 10 nurses while working in two interventional radiology suites over two measurement periods. In the first measurement period, the nurses were not provided with any radiation dose information during the interventional procedures. In the second measurement period, the nurses were able to view their personal radiation dose in real time.ResultsNurses working in interventional radiology suites reduced their personal radiology doses when using a real-time radiation dosimeter that provided a real-time display of their personal dose.ConclusionThe results support the use of real-time radiation dosimeters as an occupational radiation protection strategy in interventional radiology suites.