Level of Knowledge about the Effects of Radiation on Pregnant Women among Medical Imaging Techniques Program Students

Abstract

For this purpose, this study will examine the level of knowledge about the effects of radiation on pregnant women among the students of Medical Imaging Techniques at the Vocational School of Health Services of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University in the province of Çanakkale and compare the level of knowledge about the effects of radiation on pregnant women between the 1st grade students who have just started school and the 2nd grade students who are more experienced both theoretically and practically compared to the 1st grade students. The knowledge level of the students who do practice/internship/skill training in diagnostic radiology units of hospitals from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Vocational School of Health Services, which provides Medical Imaging and Radiology education in Çanakkale, will be determined by applying a 24-question survey. When the answers given to the question "Do you know the time period when the fetus is most sensitive to radiation?" were analyzed, it was reported that 67.8% of the 2nd grade students knew it compared to 50.8% of the 1st grade students (p=0.04). When the answers to the question "Do you know the threshold radiation doses for pregnancy termination?" were analyzed; 52.5% of the 1st grade students did not know the threshold radiation dose for pregnancy termination, whereas only 40.7% of the 2nd grade students did not (p=0.02). Although 2nd year Medical Imaging Techniques students have more knowledge about the pregnancy-related effects of radiation than 1st year students in terms of both theory and practice, there is still room for improvement.