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Influence of radiologists' sex and training on fluoroscopy doses during barium enema

¹ The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, Helsinki, FIN-00250 Helsinki
² The Department of Radiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland

Correspondence: Dr T Vehmas, The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, Finland

Variables influencing radiation exposure were studied using analysis of covariance in 523 double contrast barium enemas performed by 21 radiology residents (12 female, 9 male). Dose–area products (DAPs) (ns), number of exposures per patient (p<0.05) and screening times (p<0.05) were higher for female residents (mean 52.0 Gy cm², 9.55 exposures and 4.02 min, respectively) than for male residents (mean 41.7 Gy cm², 8.26 exposures and 3.20 min, respectively). The number of lectures on radiation protection attended by the resident (range 0–20) had no significant effect on these radiation-related variables. Other factors explaining these variables were patient age, diagnosis and anteroposterior thickness. Radiologists' use of ionizing radiation during fluoroscopy may be sex-related. Traditional lecture-based education on radiation protection was not effective with this group; thus, improved methods should be developed to control doses.