Investigation and analysis on frequencies of medical exposure in radiological diagnosis in Jiangsu province in 2015

Objective: To study the frequencies of diagnostic exposure and distribution of examined patients in Jiangsu province and to evaluate the frequencies of commom diagnostic exposure and CT examination by investigating public hospitals in Jiangsu. Methods: Public hospitals in 4 counties (districts) were sampled, and the information of examined patients on sex, age, diagnostic type and exposure category were gathered through radiology information system (RIS) of the sampled hospitals. Results: A total of 728196 records of diagnostic procedures were gathered from the sampled hospitals. Among them 479 024 records were on common diagnostic procedures, whereas 249172 records were on CT diagnostic procedures. The sex ratio was relatively balanced. the above 40 years of age group amounted for 62% the highest proportion, among the three age groups. The diagnostic frequencies in level Ⅱ hospitals contributed the highest proportion although 70% of the sampled hospitals were level I hospitals. Such diagnostic procedures as barium enema and mammography were highly distributed in level Ⅲ hospitals. Diagnostic frequencies were estimated in 2015 at 303 common diagnostic examinations and 173 CT diagnostic procedures per 1000 persons in Jiangsu province. Conclusions: Frequencies of diagnostic radiology in Jiangsu became increased since the last investigation of medical exposure examinations during the Ninth Five-year Plan, which was a challenge for health care. It is important to mobilize more resources in protection against medical radiation exposure. (authors)