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Issahaku S, Boadu M, Inkoom S, Hasford F, Sackey TA. Establishment and utilisation of national diagnostic reference level for adult computed tomography examinations in Ghana. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2024; 200:564-571. [PMID: 38453140 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncae040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The International Atomic Energy Agency, as part of the new regional project (RAF/9/059), recommend the establishment of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in Africa. In response to this recommendation, this project was designed to establish and utilise national DRLs of routine computed tomography (CT) examinations. These were done by estimating CT dose index and dose length product (DLP) from a minimum of 20 patient dose report of the most frequently used procedures using 75th percentile distribution of the median values. In all, 22 centres that formed 54% of all CT equipment in the country took part in this study. Additionally, a total of 2156 adult patients dose report were randomly selected, with a percentage distribution of 60, 12, 21 and 7% for head, chest, abdomen-pelvis and lumber spine, respectively. The established DRL for volume CT dose index were 60.0, 15.7, 20.5 and 23.8 mGy for head, chest, abdomen-pelvis and lumber spine, respectively. While the established DRL for DLP were 962.9, 1102.8, 1393.5 and 824.6 mGy-cm for head, chest, abdomen-pelvis, and lumber spine, respectively. These preliminary results were comparable with data from 16 other African countries, European Commission and the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Hence, this study would serve as a baseline for the establishment of a more generalised regional and national adult DRLs for Africa and other developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiraz Issahaku
- Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Medical Radiation Physics Center, Box LG 80, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- University of Ghana, Department of Medical Physics, Box LG 80, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Mary Boadu
- Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Medical Radiation Physics Center, Box LG 80, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- University of Ghana, Department of Medical Physics, Box LG 80, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Stephen Inkoom
- Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Medical Radiation Physics Center, Box LG 80, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- University of Ghana, Department of Medical Physics, Box LG 80, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Francis Hasford
- Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Medical Radiation Physics Center, Box LG 80, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- University of Ghana, Department of Medical Physics, Box LG 80, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Theophilus A Sackey
- Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Medical Radiation Physics Center, Box LG 80, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- University of Ghana, Department of Medical Physics, Box LG 80, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Department of Radiology, PMB, Accra, Ghana
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Bezak E, Borrás C, Hasford F, Karmaker N, Keyser A, Stoeva M, Trauernicht C, Yeong HC, Marcu LG. Science diplomacy in medical physics - an international perspective. HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY 2023; 13:495-503. [PMID: 37303976 PMCID: PMC10162897 DOI: 10.1007/s12553-023-00756-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Science diplomacy in medical physics is a relatively young research field and translational practice that focuses on establishing international collaborations to address some of the questions biomedical professionals face globally. This paper aims to present an overview of science diplomacy in medical physics, from an international perspective, illustrating the ways collaborations within and across continents can lead to scientific and professional achievements that advance scientific growth and improve patients care. Methods Science diplomacy actions were sought that promote collaborations in medical physics across the continents, related to professional and scientific aspects alike. Results Several science diplomacy actions have been identified to promote education and training, to facilitate research and development, to effectively communicate science to the public, to enable equitable access of patients to healthcare and to focus on gender equity within the profession as well as healthcare provision. Scientific and professional organizations in the field of medical physics across all continents have adopted a number of efforts in their aims, many of them with great success, to promote science diplomacy and to foster international collaborations. Conclusions Professionals in medical physics can advance through international cooperation, by building strong communication across scientific communities, addressing rising demands, exchange scientific information and knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Bezak
- Medical Radiations, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA Australia
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5001 Australia
- International Organisation for Medical Physics (IOMP), York, UK
- Asia-Oceania Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics (AFOMP), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Cari Borrás
- Radiological Physics and Health Services, Washington, DC USA
| | - Francis Hasford
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Federation of African Medical Physics Organizations (FAMPO), Accra, Ghana
- International Organisation for Medical Physics (IOMP), York, UK
| | - Nupur Karmaker
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Gono Bishwabidyalay) University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Angela Keyser
- American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), Richmond, USA
| | - Magdalena Stoeva
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- International Organisation for Medical Physics (IOMP), York, UK
| | - Christoph Trauernicht
- Federation of African Medical Physics Organizations (FAMPO), Accra, Ghana
- Division of Medical Physics, Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Hong Chai Yeong
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, 47500 Malaysia
- South-East Asian Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics (SEAFOMP), Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Loredana G. Marcu
- Medical Radiations, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA Australia
- Faculty of Informatics and Science, University of Oradea, Oradea, 410087 Romania
- European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics (EFOMP), Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Kumsa MJ, Nguse TM, Ambessa HB, Gele TT, Fantaye WG, Dellie ST. Establishment of local diagnostic reference levels for common adult CT examinations: a multicenter survey in Addis Ababa. BMC Med Imaging 2023; 23:6. [PMID: 36624411 PMCID: PMC9830915 DOI: 10.1186/s12880-023-00963-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In medical imaging, a computed tomography (CT) scanner is a major source of ionizing radiation. All medical radiation exposures should be justified and optimized to meet the clinical diagnosis. Thus, to avoid unnecessary radiation doses for patients, diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) have been used. The DRLs are used to identify unusually high radiation doses during CT procedures, which are not appropriate for the clinical diagnosis. It has been successfully implemented in Europe, Canada, Australia, the United States, several industrialized countries, and a few underdeveloped countries. The present study aimed to establish DRLs for the head, chest, and abdominopelvic (AP) CT procedures in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS A pilot study identified the most frequent CT examinations in the city. At the time of the pilot, eighteen CT scan facilities were identified as having functioning CT scanners. Then, on nine CT facilities (50% of functional CT scanners), a prospective analysis of volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) was performed. We collected data for 838 adult patients' head, chest, and AP CT examinations. SPSS version 25 was used to compute the median values of the DLP and CTDIvol dose indicators. The rounded 75th percentile of CTDIvol and DLP median values were used to define the DRLs. The results are compared to DRL data from the local, regional, and international levels. RESULT The proposed DRLs using CTDIvol (mGy) are 53, 13, and 16 for the head, chest, and AP examinations respectively, while the DLP (mGy.cm) for the respective examinations were 1210, 635, and 822 mGy.cm. CONCLUSION Baseline CT DRLs figures for the most frequently performed in Addis Ababa were provided. The discrepancies in dose between CT facilities and as well as between identical scanners suggests a large potential for dose optimization of examinations. This can be actually achieved through appropriate training of CT technologists and continuous dose audits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marema Jebessa Kumsa
- grid.7123.70000 0001 1250 5688Department of Medical Radiologic Technology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Teklehaimanot Mezgebe Nguse
- grid.7123.70000 0001 1250 5688Department of Medical Radiologic Technology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Haleluya Biredaw Ambessa
- grid.7123.70000 0001 1250 5688Department of Medical Radiologic Technology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tesfaye Tefera Gele
- grid.7123.70000 0001 1250 5688Department of Medical Radiologic Technology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Wondemu Geteye Fantaye
- grid.7123.70000 0001 1250 5688Department of Medical Radiologic Technology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Seife Teferi Dellie
- grid.7123.70000 0001 1250 5688Department of Radiology, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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