ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS ABOUT BASICS OF RADIATION SAFETY MEASURES AMONG HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING RADIOGRAPHERS AND STUDENTS OF MEDICAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGY AT TERTIARY CARE SETUP IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objectives: To determine knowledge and awareness about basic radiation safety measures among health care professionals.

Study Design:

Cross-Sectional Study

Place and Duration of Study:

AFIRI Rawalpindi, Pakistan, for a duration of six months from April 2023 to September 2023.

Methodology:

 The Study included 385 health care professionals, including radiographers and students of medical imaging technology. Convenience sampling was performed after consent. A World Health Organization modified questionnaire was used regarding questions related to knowledge and awareness of basic radiation safety, which included 8 questions regarding knowledge categories into good, satisfactory, and unsatisfactory knowledge, and 9 questions regarding attitude categories into very good, good, satisfactory, and unsatisfactory awareness. Respondents were asked to them.

 Results: 

Out of 385 respondents, 129 (33.5%) were male, and 256 (66.5%) were female. The consultant radiologist had good knowledge of 90% and good awareness of 90% and radiographers had unsatisfactory knowledge of 45.4% and unsatisfactory awareness of 36.3%.

Conclusion:

 Consultant radiologists and trainee radiologists showed good knowledge and awareness. But the knowledge and understanding are unsatisfactory or below satisfactory in radiographers.