Abstract:
Radiation protection plays a vital role in radiography and it is necessary to ensure the
safety of all patients and staff when exposed to ionising radiation.
An understanding of ionising radiation and its effects are therefore of high importance in
protecting the patient from unnecessary radiation exposure, a professional issue every
radiographer should be conscientious of (Carroll, 2011: 699). The basis of radiation
protection revolves around ensuring that exposures to ionising radiation should be kept
As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA). Radiographers are required by law to
provide effective and adequate radiation protection measures to all patients at all times.
The aim of the research study was to investigate radiation protection practices in digital
radiography during chest and lumbar spine radiographic examinations in two Eastern
Cape government hospitals and to address possible gaps in the radiographers‟
awareness of radiation protection using digital x-ray equipment by making
recommendations.
The objectives were: to establish the awareness of diagnostic radiographers regarding
effective radiation protection through a survey; to determine whether effective radiation
protection was applied by diagnostic radiographers through a checklist compiled from
literature completed by patients; and to determine whether the technical aspects of
effective radiation protection were applied by diagnostic radiographers through a
radiographic image checklist completed by three reviewers. Results showed that professionalism, poor communication, and poor radiation
protection practice, were the identified key issues. The key issues showed that: LMP
was not thoroughly performed thus revealing unethical and unprofessional behaviour;
patient identification was not thoroughly performed hence pointing to poor
communication; and poor radiation protection practice was evident through insufficient
collimation, incorrect selection of exposure factors, incorrect positioning, and insufficient
usage of lead anatomical markers.
