Radiation protection in the operating room: Need for training, qualification and accompaniment for the professionals

The objective of this work was to evaluate the knowledge of the professionals working in the operating room about the risks associated to exposure to X-rays, and the radiation protection practices. To meet this objective, we conducted a multicenter study in three Moroccan hospitals. Data collection was carried out with a self-administered questionnaire to the professionals. The results showed that more than a third of the participants ignore the ionizing nature of X-rays; and that the effects of exposure to ionizing radiation are related to cumulative dose. 3% of the participants were aware about the effective dose limit of ionizing radiation for workers for a year and the annual dose limits to the extremities or to the skin. 45.50% of participants had no knowledge about the most irradiating technique when using the amplifier; 58.21% felt that continuous fluoroscopy mode was the most irradiating. All of the participants declared the absence of a radiation protection referent, and did not use any written procedures guide for the most common radiological examinations in interventional imaging. Multidisciplinary cooperation, at least, between radiology staff and operating room staff appears imperative, and seems to strengthen the system of vigilance and protection against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.