Abstract
BackgroundTo assess awareness of ionizing radiation safety measures among Egyptian Urology Trainees and Urologists and see the effect of radiation safety courses on the adoption of these measures.MethodsThis Internet-based survey was conducted via https://www.surveymonkey.com/ after approval by the Egyptian Urological Association (EUA). It was sent to all EUA members via email during December 2019. Participation was voluntary and questions included participants’ demographics such as age, gender, years of experience, level of training and type of practice. Other questions assessed some domains such as whether the participant had radiation safety courses, and the extent to which she/he is adopting these measures during daily practice.ResultsA total of 142 Egyptian urology trainees and urologists responded to this electronic survey. The mean hours of fluoroscopy-guided endourologic procedures per week were 4.3 ± 2.1 h, and only 23% reported that they always wear protective lead aprons. In terms of the thyroid shield, X-ray protective gloves, eye googles, a total of 70% and 89% and 89% reported that they never wore it, respectively. The ALARA principle was known by only 24% of respondents. About 94% denied receiving any radiation safety courses. Participants who received radiation safety course reported significantly shorter FT during URS (p = 0.04), PCNL (p = 0.03) and JJ insertion (p = 0.04) and were significantly more compliant (p = 0.02). In addition, the number of years of experience (< 5y,5-10y,10-15y, > 15y) and the current job level (resident, specialist, consultant, professor) was significantly associated with higher compliance with lead aprons (p = 0.006, p < 0.001, respectively). On regression analysis, previous radiation safety awareness courses were the only predictor of good compliance with radiation safety measures (OR = 2 ± 0.73, p = 0.009).ConclusionThere was a lack of awareness and implementation of radiation safety measures among all participants. Receiving radiation safety courses was the only predictor of good compliance with radiation safety measures.
Highlights
To assess awareness of ionizing radiation safety measures among Egyptian Urology Trainees and Urolo‐ gists and see the effect of radiation safety courses on the adoption of these measures
Our hypothesis was that there is a lack of awareness, training and implementation of radiation safety measures among Egyptian trainees and urologists and radiation safety courses could increase the compliance with radiation safety measures
Other direct questions were included to ask about the knowledge of As low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principle, whether the wear of Lead aprons is mandatory per hospital regulations, whether the weight of lead aprons can refrain participants from wearing it, whether a food is supplied to those at higher risk for radiation exposure, and the experience of witnessing a nurse or a urologist being treated for X-ray exposure related disease
Summary
To assess awareness of ionizing radiation safety measures among Egyptian Urology Trainees and Urolo‐ gists and see the effect of radiation safety courses on the adoption of these measures. In 2015, two recent studies, one in the Lance Hematology and one in the British Medical Journal, reported direct and linear association between malignancy and protracted low dose ionizing radiation exposure among more than 300,000 radiation workers from USA, UK and France [8, 9]. There is no data about the awareness and implementation of ionizing radiation safety measures among Egyptian trainees and urologists. Our hypothesis was that there is a lack of awareness, training and implementation of radiation safety measures among Egyptian trainees and urologists and radiation safety courses could increase the compliance with radiation safety measures
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