A survey by a group at the University of Occupational and Environmental Health found that 60% of doctors do not wear the dosimeters required by law as medical care becomes more sophisticated and the number of devices that use radiation increases.
The group points out that this is a problem because it may not be possible to accurately grasp the actual exposure of healthcare workers.
When dealing with radiation in medical institutions, doctors are required by law to wear dosimeters to measure their exposure dose.
Last year, the University of Occupational and Environmental Health conducted an unannounced survey of 1,348 healthcare workers wearing chest and abdominal dosimeters.
As a result, it was found that 61% of doctors, 23% of nurses, and 34% of all did not wear it.
According to the group, it was the first time for a survey of this scale to investigate the wearing rate of medical workers, and it was found that the wearing rate was low and there was a risk that the actual exposure of medical workers could not be accurately grasped. is.
As medical care becomes more sophisticated, the exposure of doctors who repeatedly use medical equipment is becoming constant, and the value of "effective dose", which indicates the effect of exposure to the whole body, is 10 years until FY2018. An average of nearly 270 people exceed 20 millisieverts, which the government provides administrative guidance.
Professor Naoki Yoshida of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health said, "It seems that medical professionals are exposed to radiation more than they are aware of, which is a problem. It is necessary for the government and industry to respond."
Survey group "Surprised by the low wearing rate"
Associate Professor Takashi Moritake of the research group of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, who conducted an unannounced survey of the wearing rate of dosimeters, said, "If you thoroughly wear dosimeters, the exposure dose should increase dramatically for quite a lot of people. Some doctors think that if the exposure dose exceeds the limit, radiation work will not be possible and medical treatment will not be possible, but there are measures to reduce it, so it is important to grasp the exact situation first. "
In addition, Professor Kouji Mori of the research group said, "At a nuclear power plant, if a worker forgets to attach a one-line meter, it will be big news. I was surprised at the low installation rate of medical staff compared to that. "I can't hide it," he said. "There is a risk that the situation will continue as it is. We will introduce a management system such as how the hospital itself manages and reduces the amount of exposure, and builds a mechanism to ensure legal compliance. It needs to be done, "he said, advocating the importance of measures for hospitals and the industry.
Professor Naoki Yoshida of the research group said, "I think that doctors have very few opportunities to receive education on radiation risks and countermeasures since they were medical students. Through academic societies, etc. We need to do it, "he said, pointing out the challenges of education.
Increased use of radiation in medical settings
In the medical field, the number of medical devices that use radiation is increasing as examinations and surgery become more sophisticated.
According to Kazutaro Tsuruta, director of the Department of Neuroendovascular Treatment, Toranomon Hospital in Minato-ku, Tokyo, for example, radiation is used to treat cerebral vascular diseases.
In order to reduce the burden on the patient, a thin tube called a "catheter" is inserted into the base of the patient's foot and delivered to the brain through a blood vessel to operate on the affected area, but the condition inside the head cannot be understood as it is.
For this reason, surgery is performed while irradiating the patient's head with radiation using a special device called an "angiography device" and displaying the fluoroscopic blood vessels on a monitor.
However, at this time, the radiation hits the patient's head or bed, and a certain amount of radiation is scattered indoors, so doctors performing surgery will be exposed to some radiation.
In order to reduce the exposure dose as much as possible, in this hospital, a shield plate that does not allow radiation to pass through is installed near the place where the radiation of the angiography device is emitted, and doctors wear a protector containing lead and throat. It means that we are taking measures such as wearing protective equipment such as a muffler to avoid exposure to the thyroid gland and goggles to avoid exposure to the crystalline lens of the eye.
Appeal for reform of doctors' awareness of skin cancer due to radiation exposure
Takahiro Sato, Deputy Director of Hakodate Municipal Hospital in Hokkaido, has been working with radiation for many years as an orthopedic surgeon.
In spinal examinations and fracture surgery, X-ray fluoroscopes that use radiation are often used to determine the condition of the affected area, and Mr. Sato has been exposed to radiation for many years, centering on the thumb of his right hand, which is his dominant hand. is.
Then, around 2000, abnormalities began to occur in the fingers, and in 2011, he was diagnosed with "skin cancer."
It was later recognized as a public affairs disaster because of the effects of radiation.
Mr. Sato usually wore a dosimeter on his chest.
The "effective dose", which indicates the effect on the whole body from the measurement, was within the standard.
However, I didn't wear a dosimeter that fits on my finger so much, and I couldn't measure the exposure dose of my finger accurately.
Mr. Sato said, "I wasn't thinking about it seriously at that time. The reality is that doctors aren't very conscious of radiation that doesn't hurt when hit, and some of the doctors around me have dark nails. Some people have the same symptoms. "
The deputy director is currently focusing on radiation exposure measures in the hospital, saying, "Radiation is indispensable for medical treatment, but it can be ridiculous if it is used incorrectly. Seriously how to accurately measure and reduce radiation dose. We have to think about it, "he said, calling for a change in awareness and thorough measures as an industry.
National training for medical institutions
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is also aware of the situation where medical professionals are not thoroughly wearing dosimeters, and started online training for medical institutions nationwide from this year in order to reduce the exposure of doctors. I will.
In the training, which was attended by about 400 medical institutions, each medical institution made a plan to reduce the exposure dose and communicated the need to educate medical professionals.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare says, "In order to reduce radiation exposure, we will continue to ask medical institutions to wear dosimeters and take measures to reduce radiation exposure through training and other means."