Radiation safety education as a component of orthopedic training

Fluoroscopy poses an occupational hazard to orthopedic surgeons. The purpose of this study was to examine resident and faculty understanding of radiation safety and to determine whether or not a radiation safety intervention would improve radiation safety knowledge. An anonymous survey was developed to assess attitudes and knowledge regarding radiation safety and exposure. It was distributed to faculty and residents at an academic orthopedic program before and after a radiation safety lecture. Pre- and post-lecture survey results were compared. 19 residents and 22 faculty members completed the pre-lecture survey while 11 residents and 17 faculty members completed the post-lecture survey. Pre-lecture survey scores were 48.3% for residents and 49.5% for faculty; post-lecture survey scores were 52.7% and 46.1% respectively. Differences between pre and post-survey scores were not significant. This study revealed low baseline radiation safety knowledge scores for both orthopedic residents and faculty. As evidence by our results, a single radiation safety information lecture did not significantly impact radiation knowledge. Radiation safety training should have a formal role in orthopedic surgery academic curricula.