Perception and knowledge in Medical Students about the risks of Ionizing Radiation

Abstract

Background. Clinical imaging diagnosis which uses ionizing radiation has minimum risks and should be clinically indicated. The amount of radiation used in most examinations is small. Different tissues show different radiation sensitivity varying their risk related to the doses. Objective. To find out the perception of the medical students of the Universidad Católica de Honduras about the risks of imaging diagnosis that uses ionizing radiation. Population and Methods. An anonymous survey consisting of 14 multiple-choice questions, eight of which were objective, was applied. The studied population was the 4th, 5th and 6th year medical school students at Universidad Católica de Honduras Campus San Pedro y San Pablo of which most were surveyed. A total of 333 students participated voluntarily, protecting their anonymity and confidentiality. Results. 95.7% of the students considered that they do not have a good knowledge of radiology in comparison to other areas. Most considered industry sources as the biggest sources of ionizing radiation with 57.1% of the answers. No significant difference between fifth, sixth and seventh year of medicine regarding their correct answers were found. Discussion. In general, ionizing radiation risks knowledge was poor, with seventh year obtaining the highest score in correct answers. A rotation in the radiology department is recommended during sixth or seventh year, to consolidate knowledge acquired in fourth year.