RESUMO
The medical use of ionizing radiation accounts for almost half of the radiation exposure accumulated by people living in the United States each year. Although risks are associated with using radiation, materials and techniques are available to protect patients and medical personnel from excess radiation. This article reviews the nature of radiation, its effects on matter, and how shielding can help keep exposure levels as low as reasonably achievable.
Assuntos
Diagnóstico por Imagem , Exposição à Radiação/prevenção & controle , Proteção Radiológica/métodos , Radiação Ionizante , Radioterapia , Humanos , Exposição Ocupacional/prevenção & controle , Equipamentos de Proteção , Doses de Radiação , Espalhamento de RadiaçãoRESUMO
PURPOSE: Considering the cyclical nature of shortages and oversupplies of staffing levels in the labor force, an accurate prediction of future demand for personnel is of great importance. Historically, the profession of radiation therapy has been plagued with these cycles. This study establishes state population as a strong predictor of radiation therapy staffing levels. METHODS: A linear regression analysis was performed to determine the association between state population and radiation therapy staffing levels from 2002 to 2010. RESULTS: State population is a significant and substantial predictor variable for the number of actively employed and registered radiation therapists, with 89.5% to 91.4% of the variance accounted for from 2002 to 2010. CONCLUSIONS: Additional research in estimating future demand in radiation therapy is possible. By monitoring change in state population, health care professionals can proactively address cycles of shortages and oversupplies in staffing levels.
Assuntos
Corpo Clínico Hospitalar/provisão & distribuição , Modelos Estatísticos , Admissão e Escalonamento de Pessoal/estatística & dados numéricos , Radioterapia (Especialidade) , Simulação por Computador , New Mexico , Estados Unidos , Recursos HumanosRESUMO
This study examined the admissions practices of 24-month radiography programs to determine the extent to which the practices affect retention rates. Survey data from 327 programs representing 6,443 radiography program matriculants, 5,191 graduates, and 1,252 withdrawals showed that retention rates were significantly (p < or = 0.05) higher in programs that used a competitive admission process than in those that did not. Also, it was observed that the use of selective grade point average and reference letters in the competitive admission process was significant (p < or = 0.05) in predicting increased retention rates in a radiography program.
