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Answering Patient Questions About Dose and Other Modalities
Explain purpose, time and dose in plain words, know which modalities are ionizing, and send results questions to the radiologist or provider.
Explaining the exam
Before you start, tell the patient why the exam was ordered, how long it takes, what they will feel and how much radiation it involves. Use natural background radiation for comparison, about 3 mSv per year in the United States. Typical adult values: a chest x-ray is about 0.1 mSv, close to 10 days of background. A hand or foot is about 0.001 mSv, a few hours. A lumbar spine series is about 1.5 mSv, around 6 months. You might say, "This chest x-ray gives about the same radiation you get from nature in ten days." Add what you do to keep it low, such as tight collimation and only the views ordered. Avoid both "there is no radiation" and "it is dangerous."