Knowledge of the bio-effects of ultrasound among physicians performing clinical ultrasonography: Results of a survey conducted by the Italian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (SIUMB)

Piscaglia, Fabio; Tewelde, Adiam Ghebreyohanns; Righini, R.; Gianstefani, Alice; Calliada, Fabrizio; Bolondi, Luigi

doi:10.1016/j.jus.2008.12.001

Cited by 19 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(8 reference statements)

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“…2,[25][26][27][28][29][30] It is interesting to note that despite this, in the two studies where the respondents were asked their opinion on 'keepsake' imaging (non-medically indicated or social), the disapproval rates were 71.1% 25 and 69.2%.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

National survey of Australian sonographer knowledge and behaviour surrounding the ALARA principles when conducting the 11-14-week obstetric screening ultrasound

Beirne

Westerway

2016

Australas J Ultrasound Med

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Objectives: To identify gaps in Australian sonographer's knowledge and application of as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principles during first trimester imaging; Identify relationships between demographic variables and knowledge or application of the Output Display Standard (ODS) value thermal index (TI) and compare Australian sonographers to their international peers. Methods: Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registered (ASAR)-registered sonographers completed a voluntary questionnaire over September 2015 after institutional ethics approval . Seventeen questions detailed their demographics (5); knowledge of ultrasound bioeffects terminology and ALARA principles (9); behaviour surrounding ALARA and first trimester imaging (2) and continuing bioeffects education (1). Exclusion criteria was non-ASAR status. Descriptive (mode frequency) and inferential statistics (Fisher exact test) were used. Significance level was 95%. Results: Ninety-five valid surveys were collected. Ninety-nine per cent knew the meaning of ALARA, 93.55% correctly defined 'TI' and 85.39% knew where to find the TI value via the ODS. Half never monitor the ODS. No correlation (P = 0.094) was found between experience and ODS monitoring. No statistical difference (P = 0.189) existed between obstetric and non-obstetric sonographers who knew the meaning of TIB (87.18% vs. 76.92%) or those who correctly identified it as the setting for 11-14-week examinations (30.77% vs. 30.77%). When using Doppler during obstetric examinations, no difference existed (P = 0.293), between obstetric and non-obstetric sonographers' knowledge of ASUM/WFUMB guidelines for maximum TI (47.37% vs. 46.15%). Conclusions: Despite poor ODS usage, Australian sonographers outperform their international peers for ALARA literacy, and show better application of ALARA principles in the first trimester. No relationships were found between demographic variables and knowledge or conscious monitoring of ODS.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

National survey of Australian sonographer knowledge and behaviour surrounding the ALARA principles when conducting the 11-14-week obstetric screening ultrasound

Beirne

Westerway

2016

Australas J Ultrasound Med

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“…Fortyseven participants (49%) could adequately describe the EFSUMB statement on safety, whereas 85 (88%) were familiar with the FDA limits on acoustic output. 12 The results indicated that the participants had a good understanding of general bioeffects terms and guidelines. Although this group did appear to have more knowledge than previous studies, the authors state that the respondents demonstrated an overall lack of knowledge and that improved operator education was essential.…”

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confidence: 95%

“…Pisacaglia et al 12 surveyed the Italian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology to assess member knowledge of sonographic safety. They collected demographic data as well as administered an 11-question multiplechoice quiz that assessed operator knowledge of bioeffects principles, the ODS, and current safety statements from the FDA, AIUM, and the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Although this group did appear to have more knowledge than previous studies, the authors state that the respondents demonstrated an overall lack of knowledge and that improved operator education was essential. 12 The general lack of knowledge regarding safety parameters among the respondents to these surveys is discouraging given the role that sonographers and other operators have in the regulation of patient exposure to acoustic energy. Limitations to these studies include but are not limited to low statistical power; the fact that when questionnaires are mailed or e-mailed, there may be possible overestimations of knowledge because the respondents have opportunity to use reference material in answering the questions; lack of validation of the knowledge assessment tools; and lack of the ability to generalize the results to all operators or a subset, including sonographers, physicians, residents, and nurses.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Safety Practices of Sonographers and Their Knowledge of the Biologic Effects of Sonography

Bagley

Thomas

DiGiacinto

2011

Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

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Diagnostic medical sonography is viewed as a safe imaging modality. However, bioeffects research has yet to define the effects of exposure to sonography in humans. Therefore, sonographers must be aware of potential risks and practice ALARA (“as low as reasonably achievable”) routinely. This research explores sonographers’ ability to answer basic questions about the bioeffects of sonography, as well as their knowledge and use of the safety indices called the mechanical index (MI) and thermal index (TI). Members of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, a southwestern sonographers’ society, and a sonography community on Facebook 2010 were surveyed. There is a low level of bioeffects knowledge and minimal safety practices among sonographers in this survey. No significant relationship was found between sonographer knowledge of the bioeffects of sonography, years in the profession, or whether the sonographers monitor the MI/TI.

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“…Both in Europe [61] and the USA [62], approximately 70 % of clinicians (physicians and sonographers, including nurses who perform ultrasound) show very poor, or no knowledge of bioeffects and safety issues, do not know what TI and MI represent and do not even know that these appear on-screen during clinical ultrasound examinations. This is true in several other countries [63][64][65] as well as among residents/fellows [66] and sonographers, regardless of their seniority [67]. Furthermore, several assumptions were made when formulating the indices, which bring questions on their clinical value [68].…”

Section: The Output Display Standard (Osd)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrasound in the First Trimester and Earlier: How to Keep It Safe

Abramowicz

2016

First-Trimester Ultrasound

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1"Ultrasound is safe. Ultrasound is not X-rays. Our machines are FDA-approved." These are the statements most commonly made when initiating a conversation on safety of ultrasound. This is one of the reasons cited for its becoming an essential tool in medicine (together with its relatively low cost and immediate results availability). Diagnostic ultrasound (DUS) has been in use for over half a century in obstetrics and gynecology [1] and the benefits of this technology are multiple [2]. Most pregnant women have 2-3 ultrasound examinations (and many more in certain countries) during their pregnancies. In early pregnancy and before (i.e., in Artificial Reproductive Technologies [(ART]), these include serial scans of the developing follicles during ovulation induction [3] and in the earliest stages of gestation [4], first-trimester ultrasound for viability and/or aneuploidy screening (nuchal translucency, NT) and, more and more, early anatomy survey [5]. Such is the widespread enthusiasm and the generally accepted notion of safety that its use has spilled into the commercial world with mall stores offering non-medical ultrasound or "souvenir" scans. The record of safety of DUS is excellent: there are no epidemiological studies demonstrating harmful effects in human fetuses [6]. Most human epidemiological studies, however, published so far are based on information obtained with pre-1991/1992 machines. Around that time, the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) allowed the acoustic output of ultrasound machines for fetal use to be increased from 94 to 720 mW/cm 2 , a factor of almost 8 [7,8]. Is there enough evidence to validate the use of ultrasound imaging in general and Doppler in particular in the first trimester [9] and could ultrasound have detrimental effects on the fetus in the first trimester, a time of maximal susceptibility to external factors? If there are clinical indications to perform these scans (and if there were none, there would be no raison-d'être for this book) safety must be guaranteed by educating the end-users on ways to limit the possible hazards of exposure of the follicles/ova and the fetus at early stages of gestation [2].

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Knowledge of the bio-effects of ultrasound among physicians performing clinical ultrasonography: Results of a survey conducted by the Italian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (SIUMB)

Cited by 19 publications

References 11 publications

National survey of Australian sonographer knowledge and behaviour surrounding the ALARA principles when conducting the 11-14-week obstetric screening ultrasound

National survey of Australian sonographer knowledge and behaviour surrounding the ALARA principles when conducting the 11-14-week obstetric screening ultrasound

Safety Practices of Sonographers and Their Knowledge of the Biologic Effects of Sonography

Ultrasound in the First Trimester and Earlier: How to Keep It Safe

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