Patient Radiation Dose Assessment in Routine X-Ray Examination at Jimma University Specialized Hospital, South West Ethiopia

Background:  High doses of ionizing radiation can lead to such adverse health outcomes such as cancer induction in humans. Although the consequences are less evident at very low radiation doses, the associated risks are of societal importance. Therefore, periodic dose assessments should be performed to optimize patient radiation protection. The aim of this study was to assess entrance surface dose for patients undergoing routine X- ray examinations at Jimma University Specialized Hospital.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 315 patients who sought x-ray examinations at the Radiology Department of Jimma University Specialized Hospital. Patient data such as age, weight, and exposure parameters (kV and mAs) were recorded. The results of the entrance surface dose were calculated by using exposure parameters (kV and mAs), focus to surface distance (FSD), and tube output (mGy/mAs). Finally, the calculated mean entrance surface dose (ESD) was compared with the diagnostic reference level and similar internationally published studies.

Result: The mean ESD for chest PA examination was 0.40mGy in room 1 and 0.44mGy in room 2. This finding is higher than those of similar studies in UK, 0.23mGy and Nigeria 0.26mGy. For skull PA and abdomen PA examinations, the mean ESD was 2.09mGy and 2.27mGy, respectively, in room 1.  The finding of this study revealed that mean ESD values in the present work, except for chest are mostly comparable with international Diagnostic Reference Levels like, the National Radiation Protection Board (NRPB), Commission of the European Communities (CEC), and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  

Conclusion: Even though the radiation dose for skull, abdomen, & pelvis is within the corresponding range of reference values, the high dose obtained for chest PA is a further indication that doses delivered to patients are not as low as reasonably achievable, and there is need to optimize service and patient radiation at Jimma University Specialized Hospital.