Survey of Facility Policy on Allocating Pregnant Staff for MR Imaging Duty and the General Attitude to Nonionizing Radiation in Japan

Abstract

 In this study, we surveyed policies on allocating MRI scan duties to pregnant employees, and investigated the respondents' level of awareness of non-ionizing radiation. We sent 5763 questionnaires to facilities equipped with MRI devices in Japan (the corresponding respondent was a member of the personnel responsible for MRI scan duties). The questionnaire comprised: 1) Basic information; 2) General questions about the employees' pregnancies (e.g., whether the hospital has a particular policy); 3) The policy on MRI scan duties while pregnant and alternative duties ; and 4) Level of awareness of non-ionizing radiation in general. The results revealed inconsistent handling within Japan. Answers stating that ``increase the opportunity of allocation to MRI scan duties compared with the current situation'' accounted for 7.6％, ``maintaining the current frequency of allocation to MRI scan duties'' for 32.3％, and ``reduce the opportunity of allocation to MRI scan duties compared with current situation'' for 52.6％. Around half of facilities prepared work options (e.g. access restriction into MRI scan room or assign extra staff to MRI scan duties) in MRI scan duties during pregnancy. In an attitude survey for non-ionizing radiation emitted by medical devices, respondents showed higher attention compared with that for the radiation emitted by home electronic devices. This report describes a summary of the survey. Further analysis is in progress and will be reported soon.