DIAGNOSTIC RADIATION OF POTENTIALLY REPRODUCTIVE FEMALES

Objectives: To find out how consistent or variable is the understandin g and practice of radiation protection procedures for women in the chi ld bearing age at a multispeciality tertiary hospital. Setting: Riyadh Military Hospital Study. Design: Non-clustered population survey. Met hods: A questionnaire was distributed during grand rounds, mid-day cli nics and a radiology conference. Questions included which radiation pr otection rule does the respondent use for females. whether he or she i s familiar with those rules and what is his or her source of reference . Further questions were about the radiation dangers to the fetus. Res ults: Response was 95 (100%). Fifty-seven (60%) were males and 38 (40% ) were females. The majority 50 (53%) were Saudis, 16 (17%) Western an d 39 (30%) were other nationals. Sixty-two (65%) followed the old rule ''10-day rule''; 17 (18%) followed the new ''28-day rule'' and 16 (17 %) didn't know which rule to follow. None of those who followed the '' 28-day rule'' indicated hospital policy as their reference. Conclusion s: The understanding and practice of radiation protection guidelines f ar females is inconsistent. There is significant unfamiliarity with th e radiation protection rules among our hospital practitioners.