Assessment of the Impact of Low-dose Ionizing Radiation Exposure on Health Care Workers: A Study of Methods Used from a Scoping Review

Objective: This study aimed to assess the perceptions of radiologic technologists towards the use of radiation protective equipment (RPE) in fluoroscopy units and to identify the Health Belief Model constructs, “perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy”, that predict RPE utilization among radiologic technologists. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 228 radiologic technologists in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire that included socio-demographic characteristics, frequency of RPE utilization, and the Health Belief Model. Logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of RPE utilization. Results: The findings indicate that 63% of radiologic technologists reported always being committed to using RPE, while 37% reported not fully committed. Perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy showed significant associations with RPE utilization between the two groups of radiologic technologists: those who always use RPE and those who are not fully committed (p < 0.05). Logistic regression showed that perceived benefits were a significant predictor of RPE utilization (AOR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.60–0.67, p = 0.009), and type of hospital was also a significant predictor (AOR=0.09, 95% CI: 0.1–0.97, p = 0.047). Conclusion: The study highlights the need for interventions to improve the consistent use of RPE among radiologic technologists in fluoroscopy units. Emphasizing the importance of RPE usage, addressing barriers, and providing adequate cues to action can help enhance radiologic technologists' commitment to using RPE and reduce radiation exposure risks. Tailoring interventions to the specific hospital setting and considering the perceived benefits of using RPE are crucial for promoting a culture of safety and accountability in different healthcare settings.

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Cohort study protocol: investigating the impact of occupational radiation exposure on chronic non-communicable diseases among interventional radiology and nuclear medicine radiation workers - the chongqing radiation workers cohort study (CRWs)

Wu,

Li,

Wang

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background While it is established that interventional radiology and nuclear medicine radiation workers constitute an ideal cohort for low-dose irradiation studies within the spectrum of occupational radiation exposure, there is a noticeable lack of comprehensive cohort investigations both domestically and internationally. Addressing this gap, the Chongqing radiation workers (CRWs) cohort study has been formulated to systematically assess the impact of occupational radiation exposure on chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among professionals in these fields. Additionally, the study aims to evaluate the influence of factors such as occupational radiation dose, demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and dietary habits on the incidence and progression of NCDs. Crucially, researchers will delve into dose reconstruction for this specific population, including considerations such as sensitive organs, cumulative dose, and biological dose. Methods The CRWs study adopts a retrospective and prospective cohort design, with plans to enroll approximately 6000 participants from Chongqing commencing in 2023. The principal objective is to examine the impact of occupational radiation exposure on NCDs. Various data, including questionnaires, radiation dose forms, physical examination results, and biological samples, will be systematically collected and analyzed. A sustained follow-up over 20–30 years will be conducted, continuously documenting both radiation dose and health-related data. Discussion The cohort ensures lifelong follow-up and furnishes comprehensive data on multiple variables, yielding pivotal insights into the risk factors and consequences of occupational radiation exposure in interventional and nuclear medicine environments on NCDs. Our formulation of a plan for dose reconstruction in radiation-sensitive organs significantly addresses the current critical concern. The sample size in CRWs is limited, impeding the collection of numerous outcomes in a short timeframe; thus, necessitating a prolonged and thorough follow-up for the study. The observed gender imbalance among groups may introduce bias when estimating the relationship between exposure factors and NCDs. Trial registration The protocol has been registered on National Health Security Information Platform and Medical Research Information Filing Information System. MR-50-23-009837.https://www.medicalresearch.org.cn/login

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Assessment of the Impact of Low-dose Ionizing Radiation Exposure on Health Care Workers: A Study of Methods Used from a Scoping Review

Cited by 4 publications

References 20 publications

A procedural step analysis of radiation exposure in fenestrated endovascular aortic repair

A procedural step analysis of radiation exposure in fenestrated endovascular aortic repair

Factors influencing radiologic technologists’ commitment to radiation protective equipment utilization in fluoroscopy units: an analysis using the health belief model scale

Cohort study protocol: investigating the impact of occupational radiation exposure on chronic non-communicable diseases among interventional radiology and nuclear medicine radiation workers - the chongqing radiation workers cohort study (CRWs)

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