RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of shielding in patients undergoing conventional radiological procedures (1 work shift-1 x-ray room).The increased number of patients undergoing x-ray examinations has created a global concern due to the stochastic and nonstochastic association with x-ray exposure. Shielding is an efficient method of protecting radiosensitive organs when performing radiological examinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty radiography students were sent to conventional radiology departments to act as observers in the control booth of an x-ray room when a radiological procedure was being performed. RESULTS: Of the 30 hospitals evaluated, 13% regarded shielding of radiosensitive organs. The prevalence of shielding in the hospitals where shielding of radiosensitive organs was implemented varied from 5.2% to 14%. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that shielding of radiosensitive organs was not performed in the majority of hospitals. More studies are needed to establish the potential causes of low shielding prevalence.If these findings, which were obtained over 1 work shift and in 1 x-ray room, are representative of a large number of medical imaging centers, this raises global concerns regarding shielding of radiosensitive organs, in particular gonad shielding.
