Moderiano, Monique, McEvoy, Maureen, Childs, Jessie, and Esterman, Adrian (2017) Safety of ultrasound exposure: knowledge, attitudes and practices of Australasian sonographers. Sonography, 4 (3). pp. 99-109.

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Abstract

Introduction: While perceived as safe, diagnostic ultrasound has the potential to cause biological effects on the body tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices of Australasian sonographers on bioeffects and safety of ultrasound scanning.

Methods: Focus groups were used to develop a questionnaire to explore knowledge, attitudes and practices of ultrasound safety, which was then distributed to Australasian sonographers. Thematic (focus groups) and descriptive (questionnaires) analyses were undertaken.

Results: A 37‐item questionnaire addressed knowledge, attitudes and practices of ultrasound safety. In 47 collected responses, sonographers demonstrated good familiarity of thermal index (TI) (79%), mechanical index (MI) (68%) and ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ (ALARA) principle (85%). However, most sonographers could not accurately define TI (13%) and had poor knowledge of safety guidelines relating to TI (19%) and MI (14%). Over 30% were uncertain about their attitudes to ultrasound safety issues. While 52% ‘always’ and 30% ‘most of the time’ adhere to ALARA, 37% of sonographers reported never monitoring TI and MI.

Discussion: While familiar with safety terms, knowledge of safety guidelines was lacking. Many sonographers were uncertain about their attitudes to the safety of scans; and safety practices involving monitoring for bioeffects were not a high priority.

Item ID:	53122
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2054-6750
Keywords:	safety; bioeffects; survey
Related URLs:	https://doi.org/10.1177/8756479318791512
Additional Information:	This article has been reprinted by Sage with permission from Wiley as part of an article exchange: Moderiano, Monique, McEvoy, Maureen, Childs, Jessie, and Esterman, Adrian (2018) Safety of ultrasound exposure: knowledge, attitudes and practices of Australasian sonographers. Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, 34 (5). pp. 357-367. (See Related URLs)
Date Deposited:	12 Apr 2018 04:24
FoR Codes:	42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4203 Health services and systems > 420399 Health services and systems not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9202 Health and Support Services > 920202 Carer Health @ 80% 92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920118 Surgical Methods and Procedures @ 20%
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