Formal Learning in Radiation Protection at the Medical School of Malta. (May 2000)

Anglia Polytechnic University

Author - Victor Micallef B.Sc. (Hons.) Health Science (Radiography)

Abstract

The objectives of this descriptive study attempted to evaluate the opinion of junior doctors with two years of practicing experience with the Health Department of Malta regarding formal education on radiation protection at the Medical School. The study also attempted to establish if doctors are receiving knowledge on radiation protection from alternate sources.

The literature reviewed revealed that a large percentage of manmade radiation originates from medical uses and most examinations using ionising radiation protection are requested by non radiologists with little or no radiation protection knowledge. Previous studies reviewed showed that there is a significant percentage of X-ray examinations performed which are unnecessary or inappropriate.

The data was collected by means of a mail questionnaire that was mailed to forty-seven doctors of which twenty-one returned a completed copy giving the study a 45% response rate.

From qualitative and quantitative data collected it appeared that while doctors acknowledge the importance of radiation protection in their profession, few of them take the initiative to read on the subject. The majority of the doctors agree with the introduction of a formal course on radiation protection in the basic curriculum of the medical school.

On the basis of the findings it was recommended that a formal course on radiation protection be introduced in the basic curriculum of the Medical School of Malta.