Occupational radiation dose among student radiographers, nuclear medicine technologists, and radiotherapists in an Australian university.

Abstract

To become registered radiation worker as radiographer, nuclear medicine (NM) technologist, or radiotherapist in Australian health system, a 4-y bachelor's degree, or a 2-y master's degree in medical imaging (MI), NM, or radiation therapy (RT) approved by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency is required. During their supervised clinical practice period, it is crucial to monitor students' occupational radiation dose as their annual dose limit is 1 mSv y-1 unlike regular occupational dose of 20 mSv y-1. In this study, the distribution and trend of occupational dose among over 300 radiography, NM, and radiotherapy student practitioners per year in an Australian university are analyzed over a period of 10 y (2013-22). The overall average annual effective dose was well below the dose limit set for the students. Among the three streams-MI, NM, and RT-NM students had the highest annual dose.