Medical radiation dose perception and its effect on public health

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether public health implications exist in regard to medical radiation exposure.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to investigate the value of medical imaging procedures that use ionizing radiation and the need for public radiation awareness. The significance of radiation exposure on public health was sought from historic and modern perspectives.

Discussion: Potential issues involving medical imaging procedures that use ionizing radiation were identified. Ionizing radiation, effective dose, and radiation perception were investigated from a multimodality perspective to demonstrate the importance of radiation awareness.

Conclusion: Medical imaging's role in health care dictates the need for quality and competence. Organizational efforts have enhanced radiation risk knowledge, but medical imaging facilities should augment employee and public knowledge regarding medical imaging procedures. To change public perception of radiation, technologists should be prepared to discuss imaging benefits and risks, understand dose associated with different modalities, and implement radiation dose protocols. The findings reveal the importance of monitoring ionizing radiation medical imaging safety to maintain the benefits of imaging procedures.