Development and Clinical Implementation of an Integrated Information System for Occupational Radiation Exposure: A Pilot Study Using Healthcare Workers' Records (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The existing information system on occupational radiation exposure uses effective doses to evaluate whole-body exposure and equivalent doses to the eye lenses and skin. Dosimetry is performed in radiation-controlled areas using personal dosimeters, such as optically stimulated luminescence and radiophotoluminescent glass dosimeters. Effective and equivalent doses are calculated from the monthly total of personal dosimeter data. Managers check the causes of radiation exposure and radiation protection for healthcare workers when the effective and equivalent doses show abnormal values or hazardous estimates. However, radiation safety management lacks information regarding when, where, and under what circumstances radiation exposure occurs. OBJECTIVE We aimed to develop an Information System on Occupational Exposure that integrates the healthcare workers’ radiation exposure, time of exposure, location, and angiography radiation report data. METHODS The proposed system is an integrated visualization system that records the radiation exposure dose and time of exposure of healthcare workers using personal digital dosimeters, the position and time action records of healthcare workers using Bluetooth low energy beacons, and radiation dose structured report information from angiographic examinations. This system allows managers to implement advanced radiation-safety management strategies. RESULTS The information system on occupational exposure for managers developed by integrating data from the three sources was found to be effective. The usefulness of this system was demonstrated over one month of clinical operation at a medical institution. CONCLUSIONS An Information System on Occupational Exposure was developed by integrating radiation exposure dose and time data for healthcare workers. The system was clinically operated at a medical institution for one month to demonstrate its usefulness in radiation safety management by managers. CLINICALTRIAL