Knowledge Of Radiation Safety Research Articles

Radiation Safety Awareness Among Medical Staff

SummaryBackgroundThe common access to imaging methods based on ionizing radiation requires also radiation protection. The knowledge of ionizing radiation exposure risks among the medical staff is essential for planning diagnostic procedures and therapy.Evaluation of the knowledge of radiation safety during diagnostic procedures among the medical staff.Material/MethodsThe study consisted of a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire consisted of seven closed-ended questions concerning the knowledge of the effects of exposure to ionizing radiation as well as questions related to responder’s profession and work experience. The study group included a total of 150 individuals from four professional groups: nurses, doctors, medical technicians, support staff. The study was carried out in the three largest hospitals in Gdańsk between July and October 2013.ResultsThe highest rates of correct answers to questions related to the issue of radiation protection were provided by the staff of radiology facilities and emergency departments with 1–5 years of professional experience. The most vulnerable group in terms of the knowledge of these issues consisted of individuals working at surgical wards with 11–15 years of professional experience.ConclusionsEducation in the field of radiological protection should be a subject of periodic training of medical personnel regardless of position and length of service.

치과의료기관종사자의 방사선안전관리에 대한 지식 및 태도 조사

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge and attitude toward radiation safety management in dental clinic worker. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was filled out by 294 dental clinic workers in dental hospitals and clinics in Gwangju and Jeonnam from February 17 to March 30, 2014. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of radiation safety(8 questions), knowledge of radiation safety(15 questions), and attitudes of radiation safety(16 questions). The survey was done by Likert 5 scale method. Results: In completion of the radiodontia courses, 84.0% of the learners were female workers. 88.0% of the learners took the theoretical and practical courses. Those who work in the university dental hospital accounted for 87.1% and those in dental clinics accounted for 83.2%. Majority of the workers took on Leaden protective clothing in order to protect the thyroid gland. Male workers had more knowledge toward the radiation safety management than the female workers. The attitude toward the radiation safety management revealed the significant differences between age, gender, academic careers, license, clinical careers and the mean number of patients per day(p<0.05). Conclusions: The radiation safety management is very important in dental clinical workers and it is necessary to enhance the attitude toward the radiation safety through continuous education.

교육용 치과 엑스선 발생장치에 대한 방사선 안전 관리 실태 조사

The purpose of this study is to offer data base for establishment of dental training x-ray generator based safety usage through surveying real radiation safety management state of radiation worker's in plan of operations that have dental training x-ray generators and use it. For it, comprehensive references were surveyed referring reports of current state of regulation technique development and domestic radiation safety evaluation and nuclear related legislation regarding radiation safety management of dental training x-ray generators. On the basis of it, questionnaires were filled in about respondent's general characteristic radiation safety manager's status current state of radiation safety management and the level of knowledge & consciousness. For the study, the survey was conducted to 224 people of radiation safety managers and university graduates training assistants and full-time professors who can treat dental training x-ray generators in education center. through this survey 95 questionnaires were used as analysis materials except the insufficient and omitted responses. As a method of analysis, the frequency and percentage were figured out with the general characteristics and safety manager's status. Chi-square test for frequency and correlation per question analysis and Pearson correlation analysis for crosslevel correlation were done with current state of radiation safety management and knowledge & consciousness level. As a result, running dental training x-ray generators was dealt with by 20's to 40's who have high education level over post undergraduate degree and major in dental hygienic. In addition, female have higher consciousness level for radiation safety management than male. It shows significal linear relation statistically(   >5, 0.1 5, 0.3 5, 0.3<<0.7, 

Intensive care nurses' knowledge of radiation safety and their behaviors towards portable radiological examinations.

Radiological examinations for patients who are hospitalized at intensive care units are usually performed using portable radiography devices. However they may require knowledge and safety precautions of nurses. The aim of the study was to investigate ICU nurses' knowledge of radiation safety and their behaviors towards portable radiological examinations. In total, 44 intensive care nurses were recruited for this cross-sectional descriptive study using census sampling during April and May 2014. The study setting was at intensive care units of Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Kashan, Iran. An eleven-item questionnaire and a five-item checklist were used for evaluating nurses' radiation protection knowledge and behaviors, respectively. An expert panel consisting of ten nursing and radiology faculty members confirmed the content validity of the questionnaire and the checklist. Moreover, a Geiger-Müller counter was used for measuring ionizing radiation during portable radiological examinations. Study data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 13.0. Mean, standard deviation, frequency and one-sample t test were used for description of the data. The level of significance was set at below 0.05. The mean of participants' radiation protection knowledge was 4.77 ± 1.38. The most prevalent radiation protection behavior of nurses was leaving the intensive care unit during portable radiological examinations. Only 6.8% of nurses stayed at the nursing station during radiological examinations. The highest dose of radiation was 0.11 micro Sievert per hour (μSv/h), which was much lower than the highest permitted level of radiation exposure i.e. 0.25 μSv/h. Portable radiological examinations did not expose healthcare providers to high doses of ionizing radiation. Nurses' radiation protection knowledge was limited and hence, they require in-service education programs.

Improving our PRODUCT: A Quality and Safety Improvement Project Demonstrating the Value of a Preprocedural Checklist for Fluoroscopy

To implement a preprocedural checklist in gastrointestinal (GI)/genitourinary (GU) fluoroscopy suites to assist radiology residents in performing studies with optimal fluoroscopic technique with a goal to lower radiation dose delivered to patients and operators. We introduced a preprocedural checklist in the form of a mnemonic to first-year resident fluoroscopy operators. The checklist was augmented by teaching sessions at the fluoroscopy tower. Fluoroscopy time (FT) was collected for GI/GU fluoroscopy studies performed by first-year residents who did not use the checklist (year 1) and compared with FT from first-year residents who used the checklist for one full academic year (year 2). Residents in both groups were surveyed to assess their knowledge of radiation safety at the end of their respective radiology 1 (R1) academic years. A total of 778 examinations were analyzed from year 1, and 941 total examinations from year 2. After implementation of the checklist, mean FT for all studies decreased by 41.1seconds (P<.0001) in year 2 residents. Multivariate linear regression confirmed that year of examination was the strongest independent predictor of FT when other covariates such as resident age, gender, and experience and patient age and gender were included. Radiation safety knowledge was similar in both groups but self-reported confidence in safe fluoroscopy tower operation increased slightly in year 2 (P=.144). A visual preprocedural radiation safety checklist in GI/GU fluoroscopy was associated with a reduction in mean FT and may contribute to a culture of radiation safety awareness.

Developing the radiation protection safety culture in the UK

In the UK, as elsewhere, there is potential to improve how radiological challenges are addressed through improvement in, or development of, a strong radiation protection (RP) safety culture. In preliminary work in the UK, two areas have been identified as having a strong influence on UK society: the healthcare and nuclear industry sectors. Each has specific challenges, but with many overlapping common factors. Other sectors will benefit from further consideration.In order to make meaningful comparisons between these two principal sectors, this paper is primarily concerned with cultural aspects of RP in the working environment and occupational exposures rather than patient doses.The healthcare sector delivers a large collective dose to patients each year, particularly for diagnostic purposes, which continues to increase. Although patient dose is not the focus, it must be recognised that collective patient dose is inevitably linked to collective occupational exposure, especially in interventional procedures.The nuclear industry faces major challenges as work moves from operations to decommissioning on many sites. This involves restarting work in the plants responsible for the much higher radiation doses of the 1960/70s, but also performing tasks that are considerably more difficult and hazardous than those original performed in these plants.Factors which influence RP safety culture in the workplace are examined, and proposals are considered for a series of actions that may lead to an improvement in RP culture with an associated reduction in dose in many work areas. These actions include methods to improve knowledge and awareness of radiation safety, plus ways to influence management and colleagues in the workplace. The exchange of knowledge about safety culture between the nuclear industry and medical areas may act to develop RP culture in both sectors, and have a wider impact in other sectors where exposures to ionising radiations can occur.

Radiation safety knowledge and practices among Irish orthopaedic trainees.

Fluoroscopy is frequently used in orthopaedic surgery, particularly in a trauma setting. Exposure of patients and staff to ionising radiation has been studied extensively; however, little work has been done to evaluate current knowledge and practices among orthopaedic trainees. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and practices of Irish orthopaedic trainees regarding use of ionising radiation. A confidential internet-based survey on workplace radiation safety practices was distributed via email to 40 higher specialist trainees. Questions included related to radiation safety training and regular work practices. A total of 26 trainees completed the questionnaire (65% response rate). All reported regular exposure to ionising radiation. Compliance with body shields was high (25, 96%), however, other protective measures such as thyroid shields were less frequently employed. The 'as low as reasonably achievable principle' was practised regularly by 14 (54%). Radiation safety training was variable-while just over half (14) respondents felt adequately trained in radiation safety, 17 (65%) had attended a radiation protection course. Use of dosimeters was particularly poor, with only 4 (15%) using them regularly and most citing lack of availability as the main barrier. Although most Irish orthopaedic trainees have some knowledge regarding radiation safety, many do not regularly use all available measures to reduce exposure to ionising radiation. Barriers to use of protective mechanisms include lack of availability and perceived impracticality.

Radiation Safety Knowledge and Perceptions among Residents: A Potential Improvement Opportunity for Graduate Medical Education in the United States

<h3>Rationale and Objectives</h3> To investigate residents' knowledge of adverse effects of ionizing radiation, frequency of their education on radiation safety, and their use of radioprotective equipment. <h3>Materials and Methods</h3> Residents from 15/16 residency programs at Emory University were asked to complete a resident radiation safety survey through SurveyMonkey^®. The associations between the residents' knowledge and use of radioprotective equipment with residents' specialty and year of training were investigated. <h3>Results</h3> Response rate was 32.5% (173/532 residents). Thirty-nine percent residents reported radiation safety is discussed in their residency curriculum at least every 6 months. Ninety-five percent believed in a link between radiation exposure and development of cancer. Overall and Radiology residents' knowledge about specific estimated dose effects (correct responses) was limited: radiation dose associated with fetus brain malformation in pregnancy (10% vs. 26%), risk of developing cataract in interventional personnel (27% vs. 47%), lifetime risk of cancer mortality from a single abdominal computed tomography (CT) in children (22% vs. 29%), greater radiosensitivity of children compared to adults (35% vs. 50%), and relative radiation dose from an abdominal CT compared to a chest x-ray (51% vs. 48%). Radiology residents had modestly higher knowledge. There was no significant difference in residents' knowledge across their postgraduate training years. Use of lead thyroid shields was reported by 86% (97% radiology vs. 80% nonradiology; <i>P</i> = .03) and radiation-monitoring badges in 39% (68% radiology vs. 15% nonradiology; <i>P</i> < .001) of the residents. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Although radiology residents scored higher, knowledge of radiation safety for patients and healthcare workers is limited among residents regardless of medical specialty. These findings emphasize the need for educational initiatives.

Radiation Safety Knowledge and Practices Among Urology Residents and Fellows: Results of a Nationwide Survey

Reliance upon fluoroscopy within urology is increasing, with urologists key in determining radiation exposure to patients, themselves, and other healthcare personnel. However, education in occupational radiation safety is nonstandardized, often lacking. Consequently, residents and practicing urologists risk overexposure. We assessed occupational radiation safety attitudes and practices of training urologists. A confidential, anonymous, internet-based survey on workplace radiation safety practices was distributed to residents and fellows via program directors identified from the American College of Graduate Medical Education and the American Osteopathic Association. Items explored included sources of education on occupational radiation exposure, knowledge of occupational dose limits, exposure frequency, and protective item utilization. Investigators were blinded to responses. Overall, 165 trainees responded, almost all of whom reported at least weekly workplace radiation exposure. Compliance with body and thyroid shields was high at 99% and 73%, respectively. Almost no one used lead-lined glasses and gloves; three-quarters cited lack of availability. The principle of keeping radiation doses As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) was widely practiced (88%). However, 70% of respondents never used dosimeters, while 56% never had one issued. Only 53% felt adequately trained in radiation safety; this number was 30% among those pregnant during training. Fewer than half (46%) correctly identified the maximum acceptable annual physician exposure. Departmental education in radiation safety improved knowledge, protective practices, monitoring, and satisfaction with education in radiation exposure. Our findings show that protective equipment usage and occupational radiation monitoring for the training urologist are insufficient. Despite frequent exposure, resident education in radiation safety was found lacking. Efforts should be made to address these deficiencies on a local and national level.

Radiation Exposure—Do Urologists Take it Seriously in Turkey?

A questionnaire was administered to urologists to evaluate attitudes and behaviors about protection from radiation exposure during fluoroscopy guided endourological procedures. The questionnaire was e-mailed to 1,482 urologists, including urology residents, specialists and urologists holding all levels of academic degrees, between May and June 2011. The questionnaire administered to study participants was composed of demographic questions, and questions on radiation exposure frequency, and the use of dosimeters and flexible protective clothes. If a respondent reported not using dosimeters or protective clothes, additional questions asked for the reason. Of the 1,482 questionnaires 394 (26.58%) were returned, of which 363 had completed answers. A total of 307 physicians (84.58%) were exposed to ionizing radiation, of whom 79.61% stated that they perform percutaneous nephrolithotomy at the clinic. Fluoroscopy guidance was the initial choice of 96.19% of urologists during percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Despite the common use of lead aprons (75.24%) most urologists did not use dosimeters (73.94%), eyeglasses (76.95%) or gloves (66.67%) while 46.44% always used thyroid shields during fluoroscopy. When asked why they did not use protective clothing, the most common answers were that protective clothes are not ergonomic and not practical. Results clearly highlight the lack of use of ionizing radiation protection devices and dosimeters during commonly performed fluoroscopy guided endourological procedures among urologists in Turkey.

Radiation Safety and Education in the Applicants of the Final Test for the Expert of Pain Medicine

BackgroundThe C-arm fluoroscope is known as the most important equipment in pain interventions. This study was conducted to investigate the completion rate of education on radiation safety, the knowledge of radiation exposure, the use of radiation protection, and so on.MethodsUnsigned questionnaires were collected from the 27 pain physicians who applied for the final test to become an expert in pain medicine in 2011. The survey was composed of 12 questions about the position of the hospital, the kind of hospital, the use of C-arm fluoroscopy, radiation safety education, knowledge of annual permissible radiation dose, use of radiation protection, and efforts to reduce radiation exposure.ResultsIn this study, although most respondents (93%) had used C-arm fluoroscopy, only 33% of the physicians completed radiation safety education. Even though nine (33%) had received education on radiation safety, none of the physicians knew the annual permissible radiation dose. In comparing the radiation safety education group and the no-education group, the rate of wearing radiation-protective glasses or goggles and the use of radiation badges or dosimeters were significantly higher in the education group. However, in the use of other protective equipment, knowledge of radiation safety, and efforts to reduce radiation exposure, there were no statistical differences between the two groups.ConclusionsThe respondents knew very little about radiation safety and had low interest in their radiation exposure. To make the use of fluoroscopy safer, additional education, as well as attention to and knowledge of practices of radiation safety are required for pain physicians.

看護師の放射線に対する知識の現状および放射線教育の重要性─500床規模の医療機関に勤務する看護師を対象としたアンケート調査─

Radiation safety education/training is essential and is associated with a reduction in the radiation dose to both patients and staff. We used a questionnaire to assess the level of radiation safety knowledge among nurses working at Tohoku Kosei-Nenkin Hospital. Some nurses were also interviewed. The results of our study indicate that the nurses had insufficient radiation safety knowledge and that a high percentage of nurses were concerned about the health hazards of radiation. Moreover, more than 80% of the nurses expressed an interest in attending periodic radiation safety seminars. Appropriate radiation safety training is required to reduce nurse radiation doses, and an understanding of radiation safety can help to optimize the patient dose.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a radiation safety training intervention for oncology nurses: a pretest – intervention – posttest study

BackgroundRadiation, for either diagnosis or treatment, is used extensively in the field of oncology. An understanding of oncology radiation safety principles and how to apply them in practice is critical for nursing practice. Misconceptions about radiation are common, resulting in undue fears and concerns that may negatively impact patient care. Effectively educating nurses to help overcome these misconceptions is a challenge. Historically, radiation safety training programs for oncology nurses have been compliance-based and behavioral in philosophy.MethodsA new radiation safety training initiative was developed for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) adapting elements of current adult education theories to address common misconceptions and to enhance knowledge. A research design for evaluating the revised training program was also developed to assess whether the revised training program resulted in a measurable and/or statistically significant change in the knowledge or attitudes of nurses toward working with radiation. An evaluation research design based on a conceptual framework for measuring knowledge and attitude was developed and implemented using a pretest-intervention-posttest approach for 15% of the study population of 750 inpatient registered oncology nurses.ResultsAs a result of the intervention program, there was a significant difference in nurse's cognitive knowledge as measured with the test instrument from pretest (58.9%) to posttest (71.6%). The evaluation also demonstrated that while positive nursing attitudes increased, the increase was significant for only 5 out of 9 of the areas evaluated.ConclusionThe training intervention was effective for increasing cognitive knowledge, but was less effective at improving overall attitudes. This evaluation provided insights into the effectiveness of training interventions on the radiation safety knowledge and attitude of oncology nurses.

ALARA study of teaching effectiveness on reducing radiation exposure.

The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness of radiation safety instruction and the impact on radiation film badge levels. A convenience sample of 144 endoscopy nurses and technicians was pretested for radiation safety knowledge, given a course in radiation safety, and then posttested immediately after the course and then 6 months later. Radiation badges were analyzed for radiation exposure at preinstruction, 1 month postinstruction, and 6 months postinstruction. Results showed that the instruction was effective. There was only a slight decrease in radiation badge readings; the decrease, however, was not statistically significant.

Degradation of bile salts by human intestinal bacteria.

<b>1032</b> <h3><b>Learning Objectives</b></h3> Those involved in training and in the daily practice of nuclear medicine need a firm practical knowledge of radiation safety and the concepts of NRC regulations. We illustrate, in a simplified pictorial format, a comprehensive technique for reviewing Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) scenarios required to safely practice as an authorized user for the safe and effective medical use of radionuclides. We discuss how this exercise will emphasize the concepts of ALARA, training to handle radioactive spills, medical events, pregnancy and breast feeding during radioactive diagnostic and nuclear treatment procedures, the handling of common and uncommon situations including the nuclear patient on dialysis, treatment patients who do not adhere to the regulations, etc. <h3></h3> There are many residents in training and physicians who practice nuclear medicine that need hands on familiarity with the "day to day" practice of radiation safety procedures and Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations as authorized users. To become more familiar with these important regulations, we have implemented a concept which we refer to as "Radiation Safety Officer For The Day". In this role, the individual in this role under the tutelage of the RSO responds to a wide variety of common and uncommon scenarios which include: how to handle spills, concepts of ALARA, handle a medical event, how to handle a pregnant or breastfeeding patient who needs a nuclear medicine examination or treatment, the ordering and receipts of radioactive materials, waste management, maintaining equipment, etc. We will also emphasize the handling of a variety of uncommon situations which may be encountered on a daily basis. Many of these scenarios will be displayed in a pictorial format. Upon completion of this exercise, the authorized user will have a much better understanding of what is required to be a radiation safety officer and better handle a variety of problems as a authorized user