Organizational Health Literacy as a supportive tool for the effective implementation of the 2013/59/ EURATOM Directive in Italy

Abstract

Introduction. Since 2013, European countries have transposed the 2013/59/EURATOM Directive that lays down basic safety standards for protection against dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation. In the years between the issuance of the European Directive and its formal transposition, Italian researchers investigated solutions  to renew the technological, educational, and organizational culture in radiology departments.
Scope. This article proposed a reflection on the contribution of Organizational Health Literacy (OHL) to implement Legislative Decree 101/2020 in the practice of Italian radiology departments.
Results. By implementing OHL principles, examinations with exposure to ionizing radiation and related informative processes could be personalized based on patients’ knowledge, abilities, and competencies, as well as on the services’ provision. These principles can be in fact integrated with the organizational, training, and management requirements set by the Directive.
Conclusions. According with the state-of-the-art, decision-makers and health managers  could support the application of OHL principles in Italian radiology departments.