Factors Affecting Radiation Protection Behaviors among Emergency Room Nurses.

Sookkyoung Park,Yaki Yang

doi:10.3390/ijerph18126238

Abstract

This study aimed to examine factors affecting radiation protection behaviors among emergency room nurses by assessing knowledge about radiation protection and attitude towards radiation protection, employing a cross-sectional design. Subjects were a convenience sample of 129 nurses working in the emergency rooms of three advanced general hospitals. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires and analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. There were significant relations between knowledge about radiation protection and attitude towards radiation protection (r = 0.34, p < 0.001), knowledge about radiation protection and radiation protection behaviors (r = 0.37, p < 0.001), and attitude towards radiation protection and radiation protection behaviors (r = 0.33, p < 0.001). The factors affecting radiation protection behaviors were radiation protection knowledge (β = 0.12, p = 0.045), attitude towards radiation protection (β = 0.17, p = 0.009), the experience of radiation protection education (β = 0.27, p < 0.001), and wearing of protective equipment (β = 0.29, p < 0.001). The governments, hospital administrators, and radiation protection agencies should strengthen their radiation defense environment to protect emergency room nurses from radiation. Research and development of radiation defense equipment and the medical examination of emergency room nurses should be carried out, radiation defense behavior protocols should be developed, radiation defense education opportunities should be provided, and the use of defense equipment should be encouraged.

Highlights

In modern medicine, techniques using radiation are constantly developing, and are being used in various fields, from diagnosis to treatment [1]
The number of radiation workers at medical institutions was 89,025 persons in 2018, representing a 25.2% increase since 2014; the number of nurses increased 1.7-fold to 8374 persons in Korea, which was the largest increase compared to other occupations, and the number of radiation workers is forecast to continue increasing in the future [2]
In order to investigate factors affecting the radiation protection behaviors of emergency room (ER) nurses, the present study focused on the personal factors of knowledge about radiation protection and attitude towards radiation protection

Summary

Introduction

Techniques using radiation are constantly developing, and are being used in various fields, from diagnosis to treatment [1]. The annual effective dose limit in medicine is ≤50 mSv, and the 5-year cumulative dose limit is ≤100 mSv, while the annual mean exposure of nurses is 0.22 mSv in Korea [3]. There are two sides to radiation; while it can be useful when handled appropriately, negligent or careless handling of radiation can cause negative effects of exposure for the handler, and patients and caregivers [5]. Depending on the level of exposure, it can even cause severe impairment, including cataracts, skin erythema, hair loss, infertility, cancer, and genetic disease [4].

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Discussion

Conclusion