CT Dose Reduction Workshop: An Active Educational Experience

Purpose: Improving patient safety by minimizing CT radiation dose, while maintaining diagnostic image quality, has become an important skill in diagnostic radiology. The aim of this study was to examine the value of an educational workshop for optimizing CT protocols in an academic department, and to assess its impact on resident education.

Methods: The CT Dose Reduction Workshop met monthly for 1 year, to teach and implement dose reduction strategies. Changes were made to CT protocols through group consensus while participants kept up to date with current literature. A survey was sent to 48 radiology residents and 32 attending radiologists in the department, including both participants and nonparticipants, after completion of the workshop, to assess its utility. The survey used a 5-point Likert-type scale. Average doses for a specific CT protocol before and after the workshop were compared.

Results: About 80% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the workshop was essential. Workshop participants expressed greater confidence in their knowledge of dose reduction techniques, with a mean score of 3.74 (95% confidence interval, 3.35-4.13), compared with nonparticipants, who had a mean score of 3.00 (95% confidence interval, 2.64-3.36) (P < .01). Dose reductions were established across numerous CT protocols. For instance, the average total dose-length product in renal mass protocol CT examinations decreased by 54% (P < .0001).

Conclusions: A CT dose reduction workshop increases participants' confidence in knowledge of dose reduction techniques, fosters a culture of safety and quality improvement in the department, and reduces radiation dose to patients.