Radiation Awareness and X-Ray Use in Cardiology: An International Independent Web-Based Survey

Background. Cardiologists are today exposed to a growing dose of ionising radiation in their practice. Radiation awareness and correct management of X-ray use are the cornerstone to comply with the principles of exposure optimization and justification. Methods and Results. An investigator-initiated international voluntary-based survey including 28 questions was conducted across 19 European countries. 228 cardiologists participated in the survey. Invasive cardiology subspecialties were the most represented (83.6%). Radiation exposure is the cause of personal protective equipment-related orthopaedic injuries (personally or in coworkers) or anxiety in 68.5% and 62.9% of cases, respectively. 38.4% of participants have encountered difficulties in having their institutions recognizing periods off work for exceeding radiation exposure limit (16.3% usually and 22.1% on rare occasions). Gender was not associated with any difference in the answers. Age older than 40 years old was associated with an increased knowledge of personal dosimeter data (71.6% vs. 51.3%, <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"><a:mi>p</a:mi><a:mo>=</a:mo><a:mn>0.008</a:mn></a:math> ). Invasive cardiologists more frequently suffer from orthopaedic injuries (73.0% vs. 44.8%, <c:math xmlns:c="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"><c:mi>p</c:mi><c:mo>=</c:mo><c:mn>0.006</c:mn></c:math> ) and show greater participation to radioprotection courses (78.4 vs. 27.6%, <e:math xmlns:e="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M3"><e:mi>p</e:mi><e:mo><</e:mo><e:mn>0.001</e:mn></e:math> ). Conclusion. European cardiologists show appropriate awareness of the risks associated with X-ray use in medical practice and of the principles guiding a proper management of radiation hazard. However, there is still room for improvement, and institutions should promote risk education policies, which are the basis for the creation and diffusion of a community consciousness on radiation hazard.