ORIGINAL ARTICLE An assessment of medical students ’ awareness of radiation exposures associated with diagnostic imaging investigations

Objectives This study assessed students ’ awareness of radiation exposures and determined the impact a curriculum in clinical radiology (CICR) had on awareness. Methods Six hundred seventy medical students at one medical school were studied. CICR was delivered in yearly modules over the 5-year programme. Five hundred twenty-three students (years 1–5), exposed to increasing numbers of CICR modules and 147 students beginning medical school (year 0), represented the study and control groups, respec-tively. Students completed a multiple choice questionnaire assessing radiation knowledge and radiology teaching. Results Most students in the study population received CICR but 87 % considered they had not received radiation protection instruction. The percentage of correctly answered questions was significantly higher in the study population than the control group (59.7 % versus 38%, p<0.001). Students who received CICR achieved higher scores than those who did not (61.3 % compared with 42.8%, p<0.001). Increasing exposure to CICR with each year of medical education was associated with improved performance. Conclusions Assessment of students ’ awareness of radiation exposures in diagnostic imaging demonstrates improved performance with increasing years in medical school and/or increasing exposure to CICR. Findings support the Euroa-tom 97 directive position, advocating implementation of radiation protection instruction into the undergraduate medical curriculum