<b>Assessment of Entrance Surface Air Kerma and Effective Dose for Adult Patients Undergoing Conventional Diagnostic X-Ray Examinations in Selected Hospitals in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria</b>

Abstract

Diagnostic x-ray examinations are key part of modern medical imaging, helping doctors to diagnose a range of health conditions. However, these procedures expose patients to ionising radiation, which carries certain risks that need careful management. This study therefore assessed the entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) and effective dose (ED) for 1583 adult patients undergoing seven common diagnostic examinations at three different hospitals in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria using CalDose software. The results of the study ranged from 0.67 – 6.78 mGy for ESAK and 0.02 – 0.48 mSv for ED. Among the examinations considered, the lumbar spine produced the highest ESAK values across the three hospitals, for both male and female patients, with an effective dose of 0.44 mSv at X, 0.29 mSv at Y, and 0.48 mSv at Z, while the chest had the lowest dose (X= 0.06, Y = 0.02, Z = 0.02 mSv). The estimated effective doses were within the safe limits set by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. These findings emphasise the need for regular dose audits, careful optimisation of exposure settings, and ongoing staff training to reduce patient radiation exposure while maintaining good diagnostic quality.