Survey by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection: What Does Germany Think About Medical Radiation?
According to a recent survey, Germans have a relatively high level of trust in the radiation used in the medical sector. For most respondents, the key factor was that imaging procedures help diagnose diseases accurately and enable targeted treatment. Most respondents also trusted that risks are minimized through professional safety measures. Surprisingly, respondents found it difficult to estimate the proportion of their total radiation exposure attributable to medical radiation. Misconceptions about CT, MRI, and X-rays were widespread. The term “ionizing radiation” remains an abstract concept for most people.
The study was based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. First, two focus group discussions were held, each with eight participants, followed by a total of 40 individual interviews at four different locations. The quantitative survey was conducted through representative telephone interviews with 2,002 participants.1
Benefit-Risk Assessment
Respondents viewed radiation used in medical settings as an indispensable medical tool, the risks of which are accepted when the benefits are clearly recognizable. At the same time, the respondents demonstrated a good awareness of the risks: The fact that medical staff leave the room during an X-ray or that pregnant women are not allowed to undergo X-rays was seen both as evidence of the existing risk and as proof that it can be controlled.
For most respondents, the risks of medical radiation were rather abstract, and they often did not know exactly what those risks entailed. Some respondents suspected damage to cells, tissues, or organs, as well as cancer. In isolated cases, skin irritation and burns were also mentioned. Overall, however, the risk-benefit assessment clearly favored the benefits. 1
Knowledge Gaps and Misjudgments
The term “ionizing radiation” itself was familiar to only a few of the respondents, and their existing knowledge of the subject was rather vague. In a medical context, X-rays were the most commonly mentioned form of radiation. Only 36% of respondents knew that medical examinations account for the highest average radiation exposure (1.7 mSv/year). 2 Accurate knowledge was more prevalent among those aged 30–39 (54%) and among those with higher levels of education (45%).1
80% of respondents knew that imaging procedures (ultrasound, MRI, X-ray, and CT) differ in terms of the type of radiation and radiation exposure. However, the specific differences—for example, between CT and MRI—were unclear to most respondents; in some cases, MRI was mistakenly associated with radiation. The level of knowledge regarding imaging procedures generally depended heavily on personal experience with them.1
Overall, it became apparent that there was a desire for more education regarding medical radiation, particularly in comparison to other radiation-related topics (see Fig. 1).
Information-Seeking Behavior
Very few respondents said they actively seek out information about radiation exposure during medical examinations. The majority (65%) follow their doctor’s advice. For X-ray examinations, as many as 74% stated that they follow their doctor’s recommendation. At the same time, 61% of respondents said they generally decide for themselves whether to undergo an examination involving radiation exposure (see Fig. 2).1
Conclusion
Ionizing radiation used in the medical sector was overwhelmingly viewed in the survey as a safe and necessary technology. Specific knowledge was often incomplete and heavily dependent on personal experience, which means there remains a certain susceptibility to misconceptions and misinformation. The risk-benefit analysis clearly favored the benefits. This assessment was based in particular on the visible protective measures as well as on trust in medical expertise. At the same time, the survey shows that many people would like to receive clear and well-founded information.
Sources
1Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). What Does Germany Think About Radiation? Survey 2024. Final Report Project 3623S72213; GIM, Society for Innovative Market Research: Salzgitter, 2024. urn:nbn:de:0221‐2024121149061.
2(BfS) BfS. Radiation Exposure in Everyday Life. Available online: https://odlinfo.bfs.de/ODL/DE/themen/was-ist-odl/strahlung-dosis/strahlung-dosis.html
