Patients’ Knowledge About CT Radiation Dose and Risk

More than 90% of patients do not know the radiation dose from a CT scan or that CT increases the lifetime risk for cancer.

The number of computed tomography (CT) examinations in the U.S. more than tripled from 21 million in 1995 to 69 million in 2007. To explore patients’ awareness of CT radiation exposure and risk, investigators surveyed 768 consecutive patients who were undergoing outpatient CT at a university medical center in Michigan; 296 questionnaires were returned.

Despite the respondents’ high level of education (more than half had college degrees), 15% did not know that CT involves radiation. Overall, 97% of patients did not know the radiation dose from CT relative to the amount of background radiation, 94% did not know that CT imaging increases the lifetime risk for cancer, and 91% did not know that the lifetime risk is greater for younger people than…

Reviewing Author

J. Stephen Bohan, MD, MS, FACP, FACEP

Disclosures

RoyaltiesKlint Law Firm

Editorial boardsCritical Decisions in Emergency Medicine

J. Stephen Bohan, MD, MS, FACP, FACEP

Disclosures

RoyaltiesKlint Law Firm

Editorial boardsCritical Decisions in Emergency Medicine