Objective To analyze the current situation of pediatric CT examination protection and cognition in Linyi City, China, and to promote the safe and standardized development of pediatric CT examination. Methods The radiation protection facilities of 58 medical institutions, the use of protective equipment among 158 pediatric patients undergoing CT examinations, and the cognition of radiation knowledge by 188 radiographers were investigated, and the data were analyzed. Results All 58 medical institutions installed ionizing radiation warning signs according to the standards, the normal operation rate of the work indicator lights was 81.0%, and the proper provision rate of protective equipment was 72.4%. The utilization rate of protective equipment was 59.5%, and there were significant differences among hospitals at different levels (P < 0.05). Radiographers had the highest awareness rate of radiation hazards (93.6%). The awareness rate of radiation basic knowledge differed significantly among radiographers with variuos educational backgrounds and professional titles (P < 0.05). The awareness rate of protection knowledge differed significantly with sex, age, and professional title (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the awareness rate of emergency knowledge and laws and regulations based on age, educational background, and professional title (P < 0.05). Conclusion The availability and utilization of protective facilities and equipment for pediatric CT examinations in medical institutions in Linyi City require further improvement. Radiographers have a high level of awareness of radiation hazards. However, there remain gaps in their awareness rates of fundamental radiation hygiene knowledge, radiation protection knowledge, emergency knowledge, and laws and regulations. Increased efforts in education and training are recommended.

Objective:To survey the status of radiological diagnostic equipment, protective equipment and articles, personnel allocation, and exposure frequencies in Linyi city, Shandong province, and to provide data support for rational allocation of radiological resources and radiological health management.Methods:In 2023, a questionnaire survey was conducted of radiological diagnostic resources in 353 medical health institutions with radiological diagnostic equipment (excluding simple dental clinics, hereinafter referred to as radiological diagnostic institutions) in Linyi. The survey included the radiological diagnostic equipment (including 16 types of equipment in 7 categories), protective equipment and articles, the number of staff, and the exposure frequencies of X-ray diagnosis. The comparisons were conducted using rank sum test of number of peices of equipment and article and staff number in institutions at different levels in different regions.Results:In 2023, the 353 radiological diagnostic institutions in Linyi were all equipped with radiological diagnostic equipment, summing 1 180 pieces. The median value M ( P25, P75) of the number of peices of radiological diagnostic equipment possessed by each diagnostic institution was 2 (2, 3). The highest proportion of a single piece of equipment was 35.4% for digital radiography (RD) machine and 32.5% for computed tomography (CT) scanner, respectively, followed by image intensifier fluoroscopes 7.9% and flat-panel detector fluoroscopes 7.6%, while computed radiography(CR), 3 kinds of breast X-ray machines, 4 kinds of dental CT machines, and bone densitometers accounted for less than 4.0% each. A total of 223 items of protection equipment (radiation monitoring devices) were equipped, about of 47.0%. The radiological diagnostic institution was each equipped with protective articles. A total of 5 709 protective articles were provided, mainly including lead rubber neck covers, lead rubber hats, and lead rubber aprons (accounting for over 20% each). In 2023, there were a total of 2 677 staff engaged in radiological diagnosis in Linyi, with the majority being male (62.9%). The M ( P25, P75) of staff was 3 (2, 5), including 2 (1, 4) males and 1 (0, 2) females. There were level differences in radiological diagnostic equipment ( χ2=109.04, P<0.05), protective articles ( χ2=83.05, P<0.05), and the number of staff ( χ2=96.90, P<0.05), with tertiary institutions significantly higher than other levels. In 2023, there were 107.8 pieces of radiological diagnostic equipment per million population (38.2 DR units and 35.0 CT scanners per million population) and 244 radiological diagnostic staff per million population (154 males and 90 females per million population) in Linyi. The exposure frequencies of radiological diagnosis in Linyi were 543.7 examinations per thousand population, with CT diagnosis having the highest frequency (342.7 examinations per thousand population), followed by X-ray photography (157.8 examinations per thousand population) during the survey period. Conclusions:In 2023, all the radiological diagnostic institutions in Linyi are equipped with diagnostic equipment and protective articles. The number of CT, DR, breast DR units possessed by every millions of population are higher than the national and Shandong provincial average levels. The overall radiological diagnostic resources are generally good. However, the allocation of radiological diagnostic resources is unbalanced to a certain degree, which currently mainly focuses on the tertiary institutions. At the same time, the bone density meters and breast X-ray machines are insufficient, and further adjustments and optimizations are needed in the future.

Objective:To survey the status of radiological diagnostic equipment, protective equipment and articles, personnel allocation, and exposure frequencies in Linyi city, Shandong province, and to provide data support for rational allocation of radiological resources and radiological health management.Methods:In 2023, a questionnaire survey was conducted of radiological diagnostic resources in 353 medical health institutions with radiological diagnostic equipment (excluding simple dental clinics, hereinafter referred to as radiological diagnostic institutions) in Linyi. The survey included the radiological diagnostic equipment (including 16 types of equipment in 7 categories), protective equipment and articles, the number of staff, and the exposure frequencies of X-ray diagnosis. The comparisons were conducted using rank sum test of number of peices of equipment and article and staff number in institutions at different levels in different regions.Results:In 2023, the 353 radiological diagnostic institutions in Linyi were all equipped with radiological diagnostic equipment, summing 1 180 pieces. The median value M ( P25, P75) of the number of peices of radiological diagnostic equipment possessed by each diagnostic institution was 2 (2, 3). The highest proportion of a single piece of equipment was 35.4% for digital radiography (RD) machine and 32.5% for computed tomography (CT) scanner, respectively, followed by image intensifier fluoroscopes 7.9% and flat-panel detector fluoroscopes 7.6%, while computed radiography(CR), 3 kinds of breast X-ray machines, 4 kinds of dental CT machines, and bone densitometers accounted for less than 4.0% each. A total of 223 items of protection equipment (radiation monitoring devices) were equipped, about of 47.0%. The radiological diagnostic institution was each equipped with protective articles. A total of 5 709 protective articles were provided, mainly including lead rubber neck covers, lead rubber hats, and lead rubber aprons (accounting for over 20% each). In 2023, there were a total of 2 677 staff engaged in radiological diagnosis in Linyi, with the majority being male (62.9%). The M ( P25, P75) of staff was 3 (2, 5), including 2 (1, 4) males and 1 (0, 2) females. There were level differences in radiological diagnostic equipment ( χ2=109.04, P<0.05), protective articles ( χ2=83.05, P<0.05), and the number of staff ( χ2=96.90, P<0.05), with tertiary institutions significantly higher than other levels. In 2023, there were 107.8 pieces of radiological diagnostic equipment per million population (38.2 DR units and 35.0 CT scanners per million population) and 244 radiological diagnostic staff per million population (154 males and 90 females per million population) in Linyi. The exposure frequencies of radiological diagnosis in Linyi were 543.7 examinations per thousand population, with CT diagnosis having the highest frequency (342.7 examinations per thousand population), followed by X-ray photography (157.8 examinations per thousand population) during the survey period. Conclusions:In 2023, all the radiological diagnostic institutions in Linyi are equipped with diagnostic equipment and protective articles. The number of CT, DR, breast DR units possessed by every millions of population are higher than the national and Shandong provincial average levels. The overall radiological diagnostic resources are generally good. However, the allocation of radiological diagnostic resources is unbalanced to a certain degree, which currently mainly focuses on the tertiary institutions. At the same time, the bone density meters and breast X-ray machines are insufficient, and further adjustments and optimizations are needed in the future.