What key factor affects patient dose in digital radiography?

The key factor that affects patient dose in digital radiography is detector sensitivity. Detector sensitivity refers to how effectively the imaging system can convert incoming x-rays into a digital image. A highly sensitive detector requires less radiation to produce a diagnostic-quality image, which directly correlates to a reduced patient dose. When a detector is more sensitive, it can detect lower levels of radiation, leading to a need for less exposure time and therefore minimizing the overall radiation exposure to the patient.

While other choices may relate to aspects of radiographic technology or image quality, they do not directly impact the amount of radiation a patient receives in the same fundamental way that detector sensitivity does. As such, a system's ability to efficiently capture the necessary data with minimal x-ray exposure is paramount in ensuring patient safety while still achieving diagnostic accuracy.