A Survey of X-Radiation Exposure in the Practice of Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

Use of personal protective equipment in a radiology room at a veterinary teaching hospital

“…We found that there were less workers in the room when animals were sedated or anesthetized, supporting the use of sedation or anesthesia to decrease radiation exposure. Sedation or anesthesia for radiographic imaging is not consistently used by veterinarians . At this workplace, common practice is to use sedation when animals resist initial attempts at positioning, as opposed to preemptive use to reduce worker radiation exposure.…”

“…A total of 94% of small animal veterinarians in western Canada reported that they restrain animals for radiographs, and 92% of female veterinary workers in small animal practices in Ontario, Canada reported restraining animals during radiographic imaging . A similar approach to positioning animals for imaging has been described in the United States, where New Jersey veterinarians reported that the ‘majority of animals are manually positioned’ by workers in their practice, and 76% of female veterinarians who graduated from an American veterinary college reported restraining animals for radiographs . In the New Jersey study, even when sedation or general anesthesia was administered to an animal, ‘in almost all cases someone holds it in the proper position for the desired picture .…”

“…Ninety to ninety‐five percent of veterinarians report performing diagnostic radiographic imaging of small animals, such as dogs and cats, in their practice . Contrary to human medicine, veterinary workers are frequently present in the radiographic room during the X‐ray exposure for the purpose of positioning animals . A total of 94% of small animal veterinarians in western Canada reported that they restrain animals for radiographs, and 92% of female veterinary workers in small animal practices in Ontario, Canada reported restraining animals during radiographic imaging .…”

“…Female Australian small animal veterinarians reported always or frequently using a lead apron 86% of the time, thyroid shield 53% of the time, and gloves 43% of the time . Small animal veterinarians in western Canada wore no protective equipment while in the radiology room for 37% of radiographic procedures, and about 25% of veterinarians in a New Jersey study reported seldom, if ever, wearing aprons and gloves . A study of Canadian veterinarians who were pregnant or planning pregnancy reported higher percentages of personal protective equipment use; lead aprons were reported to be always worn for 100% of X‐ray films, thyroid collars for 92% of films, and gloves for 85% of films .…”

“…Our hypothesis was that the percentage of workers using personal protective equipment was lower after‐hours than during regular working hours. Current knowledge on the frequency of use of personal protective equipment by veterinarians during diagnostic radiographic imaging is based solely on self‐reported personal protective equipment use, as opposed to direct observation . The second objective was to compare the observed use of personal protective equipment with self‐reported use of personal protective equipment by veterinary workers, and our hypothesis was that the self‐reported use would be higher than observed use.…”