Investigation Dose Constraints for Carers and Comforters in Radiography: A Review

Introduction: Medical radiation exposures are primarily administered to patients for diagnostic tests, interventional procedures, or radiation treatment. However, there are also other individuals, such as parents and close friends, who provide care and comfort to patients These carers may hold children during diagnostic procedures or be in close proximity to patients after the administration of radiopharmaceuticals or during brachytherapy[۱]. Aim of this study is to investigate the Dose Constraints for Carers and Comforters in various reports and methods of radiography. Materials and Methods: The primary objective of this study is to investigate established dose constraints for individuals referred to as "carers" and "comforters" in various medical reports and radiographic methods. These individuals often provide care and support to patients during or after radiological procedures. A systematic search was conducted in reputable academic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, using keywords such as "dose constraints" and "carers in radiography. Publications lacking specific information on dose constraints. The selected ۲۵ articles and reports were reviewed to identify and document established dose constraints for carers and comforters in the context of various radiographic procedures. Results: The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has proposed a dose limit of ۵ millisieverts (mSv) for each carers episode involving patients[۱]. Conversely, the European Union has established varying dose limits, ۳ mSv for individuals below the age of ۶۰ who are not pregnant, and ۱۵ mSv for individuals aged ۶۰ or above[۲]. In Australia, the Code for Radiation Protection in Medical Exposure provides guidelines for safeguarding carers. For radiological examinations, the dose limit is set at ۱ mSv, which aligns with the general public's limit. However, in treatment scenarios such as radionuclide therapy, the dose limit is elevated to ۵ mS v [۳].In studies conducted, it has been found that carers in CT, mammography and radiography receive a dose significantly lower than the permissible limit set by radiation protection organizations.[۴,۵,۶,۷,۸,۹]. Conclusion: Due to the fact that carers receive higher doses of radiation than the general public, obtaining informed consent and providing information to caregivers is crucial. This ensures that they are aware of the risks associated with ionizing radiation and can actively participate in patient care through informed decision-making. In a institution, it was decided that a lead apron is not required if the carer is unlikely to receive more than ۲ µSv [۱۰].

کلیدواژه ها:

Radiation protection ، Carers ، Dose