Underestimation of Radiation Doses by Compliance of Wearing Dosimeters among Fluoroscopically-Guided Interventional Medical Workers in Korea

Won Jin Lee, Eun Jin Jang, Kyeong Seo Kim and Ye Jin Bang
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Won Jin Lee: Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea
Eun Jin Jang: Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea
Kyeong Seo Kim: Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea
Ye Jin Bang: Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-10

Abstract: This study aimed to estimate the level of underestimation of National Dose Registry (NDR) doses based on the workers’ dosimeter wearing compliance. In 2021, a nationwide survey of Korean medical radiation workers was conducted. A total of 989 medical workers who performed fluoroscopically-guided interventional procedures participated, and their NDR was compared with the adjusted doses by multiplying the correction factors based on the individual level of dosimeter compliance from the questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors for low dosimeter wearing. Based on the data from the NDR, the average annual effective radiation dose was 0.95 mSv, while the compliance-adjusted dose was 1.79 mSv, yielding an 89% increase. The risks for low compliance with wearing a badge were significantly higher among doctors, professionals other than radiologists or cardiologists, workers not frequently involved in performing fluoroscopically-guided interventional procedures, and workers who did not frequently wear protective devices. This study provided quantitative information demonstrating that the NDR data may have underestimated the actual occupational radiation exposure. The underestimation of NDR doses may lead to biased risk estimates in epidemiological studies for radiation workers, and considerable attention on dosimetry wearing compliance is required to interpret and utilize NDR data.

Keywords: badge; fluoroscopically-guided interventional procedures; hospital workers; occupational exposure; thermoluminescent dosimetry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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