PATIENTS' KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF RADIATION DOSE AND RISKS FROM CT: DO PATIENTS NEED A PERSONALIZED COMMUNICATION OF DOSE BILL?

Abstract

In the last decades exposure to ionizing radiations in computed tomography (CT) has constantly increased. Only a few years ago it was quite difficult to assess how much radiation had been delivered to a patient during a CT examination. Nowadays, the technical challenges of dose data reporting between CT scanners from different vendors have been met, making dose tracking a reality since these dose data are automatically stored in the picture achieving system of the radiology department. Most authors affirm communication of CT risk to patients should be personalized, but no studies investigate if a tailored communication is needed. Aim of our study is to understand how patients' characteristics may condition the comprehension of this information.