Which of the following practices can help minimize radiation exposure to both patient and staff?

Question

Question

Answer 1

Correct Answer: Using high-speed film

Rationale:

High-speed film is designed to be more sensitive to X-rays, allowing for shorter exposure times. This reduces the amount of radiation the patient is exposed to during an X-ray procedure.
Minimizing exposure time is a key principle in radiation safety, as it directly reduces the dose received by both the patient and the healthcare provider.
Using high-speed film also helps maintain image quality while adhering to the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle, which aims to minimize radiation exposure.

Explanation of Other Options:

Increasing mAs

Rationale: Increasing milliampere-seconds (mAs) directly increases the amount of X-ray photons produced, which in turn increases the radiation dose to the patient. This is contrary to the goal of minimizing exposure.

Reducing distance from the X-ray source

Rationale: Reducing the distance from the X-ray source to the patient or staff increases radiation exposure due to the inverse square law, which states that radiation intensity increases as the distance to the source decreases.

Using a smaller focal spot

Rationale: While using a smaller focal spot can improve image resolution, it does not directly affect radiation exposure. It does not contribute to minimizing radiation dose to the patient or staff.

Conclusion:

Among the given options, using high-speed film is the most effective practice for minimizing radiation exposure to both patients and staff. It ensures high-quality imaging while adhering to radiation safety principles.