Survey of self-reported radiation safety practices among North American veterinary technicians involved in equine radiography using portable x-ray equipment.

This study examines the self-reported radiation safety practices of veterinary technicians working with equine radiography in North America. It found that these practices often fell short of recommended guidelines, suggesting a need for improved training, connections between academic institutions and practices, and increased access to personal protective equipment.

Study Methodology

• This research was primarily conducted through an electronic questionnaire delivered to 884 members of the American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Assistants. The survey contained questions about practices regarding the use of portable x-ray equipment.
• Of the questionnaires sent out, 221 were completed, and 154 were by technicians who had been directly involved in equine radiography over the past year. The technicians may have operated x-ray tube machines, held cassettes during the procedure, or both.

Findings on Safety Practices

• In terms of lead apron use, the figures were found to be suboptimal. Lead aprons are critical in protecting users from radiation exposure. Only 80% (104 out of 130) x-ray tube operators and 83.1% (123 out of 148) of cassette holders always wore them.
• About one-fifth of the participants never wore thyroid shields, which protect the thyroid from radiation exposure. This lack was despite the thyroid gland’s high sensitivity to radiation.
• Nearly 90% never wore lead eyeglasses, which are used to protect the eyes from radiation exposure. This mirrors the global trend where eye protection usage tends to be lower in comparison to other PPE.
• Almost half of the participants didn’t have access to lead eyeglasses. This is an issue of resource allocation and may indicate a gap in providing proper protective equipment in some practices.

Other Key Observations

• More than 55% of participants always held the x-ray equipment by hand, but 58.4% of x-ray tube operators and 25.0% of cassette holders did not wear gloves.
• Despite the technicians’ close contact with radiation exposure sources, cassette holders wore lead gloves and personal radiation dose-monitoring devices significantly more frequently than tube operators.

Conclusions

• Overall, the study found that North American equine technicians’ compliance with radiation safety recommendations is suboptimal. The recommendations referred to are those issued by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements.
• The researchers suggest several possible solutions. These include enhancing radiation safety training and education, reinforcing the links between academic institutions and private practices, and encouraging the use of personal protective equipment by senior clinicians and employers.