Sustainable radiology in practice
Insights into radiographers’ knowledge and attitudes toward environmental health
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22425186 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Faten Aldhafeeri (University of Hafr Al-Batin, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-24 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | BMC Medical Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1472-6920 • E-ISSN: 1472-6920 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1186/s12909-026-09302-8 |
| PMID | 42032619 |
| OpenAlex | W7155511775 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 30 |
Radiology contributes considerably to the global healthcare carbon footprint, yet the integration of sustainable practices remains limited. This study evaluates the environmental awareness, attitudes, and operational practices of radiology personnel to characterize the “value-action gap” in current imaging departments. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted involving 480 diagnostic radiographers, medical imaging technologists, and interventional radiology specialists across a multi-centre setting. A structured questionnaire, adapted from validated instruments, assessed demographics, environmental knowledge, operational behaviors (e.g., power-down protocols, waste segregation), and barriers to implementation. 75.8% of participants rated environmental sustainability as ‘essential’ or ‘very important’ to radiology practice. Despite this, 62.1% reported no environmental policy in their workplace, and 76.7% identified a lack of training as the primary barrier to adoption. While radiation and contrast media were widely recognised as environmental concerns, the energy impact of MRI and CT was frequently underestimated. The ALARA protocol was the most commonly reported green practice (n = 480), whereas energy-reduction measures were largely absent (78.3% reported none). A distinct paradox exists in modern radiology: the workforce possesses the will to adopt “Green Radiology” but lacks the institutional infrastructure and technical competency to execute it. The findings suggest that current inertia may reflect insufficient professional education and governance structures rather than individual apathy. Future strategies may benefit from integrating carbon literacy training and institutional sustainability frameworks into radiology practice.
Corporate governance · Curriculum · Health care · Interventional radiology · Summative assessment · Sustainability · Workforce · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Sustainability in Higher Education
| Highly cited | No |
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