Comparative studies of two methods for work load determination in radiology rooms

In this paper the Work Load was estimated, using two different methods, in three radiology rooms at HCPA - Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre - and the values obtained were compared to each other. Since de work load is a parameter used in the shielding calculation of those rooms and in the evaluation of the adjacent areas' radiometric level, the precision of its value is relevant from the radiological as well as the economical point of view. To reach a reliable level of 95%, 2606 exams were observed and its kVp and mAs values were registered. As a result of the comparison between the two different methods, it was found a discrepancy of 400%, which points to the need of the use of a more efficient method. (author)