Assessment of Awareness and Practice of Ionizing Radiation Protection Procedures Among Exposed Health Care Workers

Abstract

Introduction:Occupational exposure to ionizing radiation is the result of exposure at work sites for diagnostic and therapeutic practices. Ionizing radiation is an energy type in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles. Radiographic imaging is extremely valuable as a diagnostic tool in medical fields leading to different health hazards to health care workers (HCWs) and to the surrounding environment if safety measures are not observed. Aim of work: To assess awareness and practice of ionizing radiation protection procedures among (HCWs) occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation at Zagazig University Hospitals. Materials and methods: All HCWs (technicians, nurses, physicians, and physicists) occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation in diagnostic radiology (DR) department, Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine (CO&NM) department, and Nuclear Medicine (NM) unit who accepted to share in the study were included as study population (No=195). A cross-sectional study was carried out at the previous departments in Zagazig University Hospitals. A self-administered, structured questionnaire composed of three sections, A, B and C was the study tool. Section A comprised questions regarding demographic data, section B included questions about awareness of radiation protection procedures, and section C was composed of questions about safe practices of HCWs regarding ionizing radiation exposures. Results: The study revealed that satisfactory awareness of radiation protection procedures amongHCWs in the three departments was (51.3 %) with no statistically significant difference between different radiation units. But HCWs had inadequate practice score (18%) regarding the use of safety measures of radiation exposure. Satisfactory awareness of radiation protection procedures of Salah Eldeen and Farouk 530 exposed workers was highly significantly associated with higher educational level (44.2%), years of experience ≥ 10 years (36.8 %), being a physician (73.7%) and getting training courses (61.1%).Also, adequate practice of radiation protection procedures among exposed workers was found to be highly significantly associated with higher educational level (74.3%), years of experience ≥ 10 years (68.6%), being a physician (80.0%) and getting training courses (71.4%). Conclusion: satisfactory awareness about radiation protection procedures among exposed HCWs was noted while inadequate practices of radiation protection procedures in the workplace were found.

Assessment of the Practice of Radiation Safety Principles among Radiological Professionals in Mongolia

“…16 In contrast, some previous studies have shown that there were significant differences between radiation protection practice and age, 18 gender, 19 education, 18 occupation, 19 and working experience. 18,20 In the present study, however, there was no significant difference according to the participants' experience, age, gender, or frequency of imaging examination. The reason for this difference was unclear, and further studies may be necessary to clarify the significant factors affecting the appropriate acts of the professionals in the radiology department.…”

Risk assessment of lead exposure in radiology personnel in Menoufia hospitals, Egypt

“…Radiologists wearing aprons in this study were only 45%, which could be explained by the lack of health instructions and supervision of workers to decrease the risks of exposure to ionizing radiation. A recent study of 195 radiologists to assess awareness and practice of ionizing radiation protection procedures among health-care workers (HCWs) occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation at Zagazig University Hospitals revealed that satisfactory awareness of radiation protection procedures among HCWs was 51.3%, but HCWs had inadequate practice scores (only 18%) regarding the use of safety measures of radiation exposure during work (Salah Eldeen and Farouk, 2020).…”

The Importance of Public Health in Radiology and Radiation Protection

“…30,31 During the last decade, many studies in different countries have been conducted to analyse the knowledge of medical workers about the issue of radiation safety. [32][33][34][35][36][37][38] Many of them showed unsatisfying results. For example, there was realized an Italian study that used the questionnaire method.…”