Andreas Engström: How much radiation protection is needed for radiology staff?
Modern imaging technology has reduced radiation exposure for healthcare professionals. Andreas Engström has examined how much protection and resources are actually needed to ensure a radiation-safe work environment.
ANDREAS ENGSTRÖM
Dissertation defense: 28 November 2025 (click for details)
Doctoral thesis: Occupational radiological protection - how safe is safe enough? Recommendations of α values, helpful for assessing the reasonableness of investments in occupational radiological protection
Research area: Medical Radiation Sciences
Sahlgrenska Academy, The Institute of Clinical Sciences
Over recent decades, the radiation exposure experienced by healthcare staff has decreased significantly thanks to more advanced equipment. At the same time, hospitals are investing in increasing amounts of protective gear. This made Andreas Engström question how much radiation protection is truly needed to create a safe working environment.
Balancing protection and cost
In his research, he combined radiation safety with health economics to provide a basis for more efficient prioritization. A central aim was to assess how much resources should reasonably be spent on radiation protection compared with other societal risks, such as traffic safety.
“If an investment in radiation safety costs less than 500 SEK per millisievert (unit of radiation dose) saved, it can be considered beneficial from a health economics perspective. However, if it exceeds 1,500 SEK per millisievert saved, it is too expensive, as the money would probably be more useful elsewhere. Between 500 and 1,500 SEK, the cost-effectiveness is more uncertain,” says Andreas Engström, hospital physicist at Skaraborg Hospital and doctoral student at the Institute of Clinical Sciences.
Practical use for medical physicists
The results of the thesis can serve as guidance for medical physicists when assessing investments in radiation protection. By weighing benefits against costs, it becomes easier to prioritize the right measures and use resources more efficiently.
“It’s not about compromising safety, but about using our resources wisely where they truly make a difference,” says Andreas Engström.
What has been the most enjoyable part of the doctoral project?
“It has been very rewarding to delve deeper into these questions, and my hope is that the recommendations will benefit medical physicists across the country.”
Text: Jakob Lundberg