Radiation Safety Awareness Among Non-radiology Staff at Tabuk Hospitals, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Insufficient understanding of radiation safety contributes to heightened exposure vulnerability amongpatients and medical personnel. This study assessed radiation safety awareness among non-radiology staff at Tabuk hospitals, Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study included 203 non-radiology staff from the King Salman Armed Forces, King Fahad Specialist, and King Khaled Hospitals in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered, structured questionnaire was used. Regression analysis was used to detect variables affecting radiation safety awareness. According to Bloom's cut-off categories for knowledge, most non-radiologists at Tabuk hospitals (76%) had low awareness levels. Having a moderate-to-high knowledge level regarding radiation safety was significantly associated with being a physician (p = 0.004), having a longer length of service (p = 0.001), having attended a radiation protection and safety course (p = 0.049), and increased frequency of ordering imaging per day (p < 0.001). Gender had no significant effect on the knowledge level (p = 0.854). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the daily frequency of ordering images was the only independent significant factor associated with having a moderate-to-high level of knowledge (OR: 6.222, 95% CI: 2.706-14.308, p < 0.001). Non-radiologists in Tabuk hospitals have low awareness of radiation safety. Strong associations were noticed between awareness level and being a physician, having clinical experience, attending a radiation protection and safety course, and increasing the frequency of ordering imaging daily. Training courses about the hazards of radiation and the safety measures could lower the frequency of daily exposure to radiation.