Article

Engaging health professionals and patients in the medical field: role of radiological protection culture and informed consent practices

¹ CEPN – Nuclear Protection Evaluation Center, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
² BfS – Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Willy-Brandt-Straße 5, Salzgitter, Germany
³ University of Milan, Via Pascal, 36, 20133 Milan, Italy
⁴ Milan Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute, Hajdrihova 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
⁵ EEAE – Greek Atomic Energy Commission, 15310 Agia Paraskevi – Attiki, Greece
⁶ Université Franche Comté, Laboratoire Chrono-environnement, Montbéliard, France
⁷ SCK CEN – Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium
⁸ National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Bucharest, Romania
⁹ ISGlobal, Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
¹⁰ IRSN – Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France

^* Corresponding author: schieber@cepn.asso.fr

Abstract

In medical exposure situations, the significant role of and the need to improve the benefit/risk dialogue between health professionals, patients and other stakeholders are well recognized. This paper analyses stakeholder engagement processes in various medical applications of ionising radiation. It addresses the role and potential benefit of radiological protection (RP) culture for health professionals and the issues associated with the practical implementation of informed consent processes. The paper highlights the need to develop RP culture among health professionals to facilitate dialogue between practitioners and patients and to foster the implementation of the principles of radiological protection. It argues that patients’ participation can be enhanced by creating spaces and opportunities for dialogue between patients and the relevant medical professionals, both before the implementation of medical procedures using ionising radiation, particularly at the moment of referral, as well as after these procedures. Risk communication training for medical professionals and their closer collaboration on this topic may enhance the dialogue with patients.