Medical imaging tests: Assessment of staffs and students' knowledge about radiation protection and risks and dose levels


 Background

Identifying the level of radiology students and radiologist's awareness about their knowledge of radiation risks and radiation protection and their understanding of radiation dose levels in medical imaging tests will help global and national lawmakers adjust laws according to the recognized need in studies. The significance of this study is further enhanced when it is considered a lack of radiation awareness may increase the risk of radiation damage to themselves and patients.
Method:

This Crossectional study is done on 180 people, including 62 people were students (radiology residents and technologists), and 118 people were radiology staff (radiologists and radiographers). For measuring the awareness of participants, a prepared questionnaire which had a total of 22 questions. The poll was divided into three sections of which: Demographics data, Radiation protection awareness, and knowledge of radiologists about dose assessment. The questionnaire reliability was assessed in terms of internal consistency utilizing the Cronbach’s alpha (0.85_). A P-value of less than 0.05 was set a threshold for statistical sig-nuisance. Statistical analysis was carried out using software SPSS version 22.
Result

Most students believed that 1-year-old girls had the most sensitivity to radiation, while most staff found that radiation risk was unrelated to age and sex. Both staff and students found that crews working in nuclear medicine departments were more exposed to radiation (the majority). Most students and faculty also chose breast tissue as the most sensitive organ against radiation. It should be noted that among the staff responses, a significant number of bones were also selected. In general, students and staff did not have sufficient information about radiation-related illnesses. Approximately 82 percent of students chose a dose of Lumbar X-ray exams between 1 and 50 times the PA chest, and only 9 percent answered the question correctly (100 − 50 times). However, 27% of employees chose the correct answer. Students on the average dose of mammography had more choice (1–10 times) of a PA chest test, while staff preferred 100–500. (Both groups did not perform well in this question). The crew performed better on the dose resulting from a PET-CT test as well as the dose estimate from a nuclear medicine heart scan, and selected 36% correct response (more than 500 times the PA chest), while students had a lower rating (1–10 times) than others.
Conclusion

Most students and staff believed that they had a suitable or sufficient level of awareness of ionizing radiation. Overall, 45% of students and staff rarely had any training or retraining (37%). Radiology students had a better level of knowledge about radiation protection than team, while team had better estimates in discussing dose assessment. In general, students and staff did not have sufficient information about radiation-related illnesses. Students and staff had accurate estimates of the dose received in a PA chest and the average dose of background radiation. Both groups had little information on mammography, but had good knowledge of ultrasound, MRI, and CT scans. In general, staff and students had a good understanding of nuclear medicine dose assessment. (Staff performed better)


Abstract Background
Identifying the level of radiology students and radiologist's awareness about their knowledge of radiation risks and radiation protection and their understanding of radiation dose levels in medical imaging tests will help global and national lawmakers adjust laws according to the recognized need in studies. The significance of this study is further enhanced when it is considered a lack of radiation awareness may increase the risk of radiation damage to themselves and patients.

Method:
This Crossectional study is done on 180 people, including 62 people were students (radiology residents and technologists), and 118 people were radiology staff (radiologists and radiographers).
For measuring the awareness of participants, a prepared questionnaire which had a total of 22 questions. The poll was divided into three sections of which: Demographics data, Radiation protection awareness, and knowledge of radiologists about dose assessment. The questionnaire reliability was assessed in terms of internal consistency utilizing the Cronbach's alpha (0.85_). A P-value of less than 0.05 was set a threshold for statistical sig-nuisance. Statistical analysis was carried out using software SPSS version 22.

Result
Most students believed that 1-year-old girls had the most sensitivity to radiation, while most staff found that radiation risk was unrelated to age and sex. Both staff and students found that crews working in nuclear medicine departments were more exposed to radiation (the majority). Most students and faculty also chose breast tissue as the most sensitive organ against radiation. It should be noted that among the staff responses, a significant number of bones were also selected. In general, students and staff did not have sufficient information about radiation-related illnesses.
Approximately 82 percent of students chose a dose of Lumbar X-ray exams between 1 and 50 times the PA chest, and only 9 percent answered the question correctly (100 − 50 times). However, 27% of employees chose the correct answer. Students on the average dose of mammography had more choice (1-10 times) of a PA chest test, while staff preferred 100-500. (Both groups did not perform well in this question). The crew performed better on the dose resulting from a PET-CT test as well as the dose estimate from a nuclear medicine heart scan, and selected 36% correct response (more than 500 times the PA chest), while students had a lower rating (1-10 times) than others.

Conclusion
Most students and staff believed that they had a suitable or sufficient level of awareness of ionizing radiation. Overall, 45% of students and staff rarely had any training or retraining (37%). Radiology students had a better level of knowledge about radiation protection than team, while team had better estimates in discussing dose assessment. In general, students and staff did not have sufficient information about radiation-related illnesses. Students and staff had accurate estimates of the dose received in a PA chest and the average dose of background radiation. Both groups had little information on mammography, but had good knowledge of ultrasound, MRI, and CT scans. In general, staff and students had a good understanding of nuclear medicine dose assessment. (Staff performed better)

Background
Ionizing radiation has been one of the most practical instruments in the organization and therapeutic centers, which is utilizable in the diagnostic imaging procedures. Nowadays, about half of the critical medical decisions are made by the interpretation of medical images. In the initial years of using radiology, simple radiography was the only available qualified image, which is usually the primary indication by doctors due to its great convenience, high speed "procedures," and relatively low expenditure. For illustration, using computer tomography (CT), which has more radiation exposure than conventional radiography, has increased effectively over 30 recent years. Although it contains abound 50% of the total radiation burden [2,3]. However, CT scan presents famous medical series; it causes some concerns about the dangers of cancer amongst the scientific community. From a physical point of view, ionizing radiation is radiation that has sufficient energy to separate an electron from an atom or molecule; in scientific terms make its ionization. Researches have recognized significant numbers of worrying effects of radiation which effectuate cancers until now. According to the investigations, done by Chodic and assistants, the probability of access disorders such as goiter, lung and breast cancer, cataract, and leukemia exist, even in a low-level dose of radiation [4]. It is considerable to say that ionizing radiation is able to51 increase the probability of cancer, addition, affect other generations just by destroying and damaging DNA. Radiation also causes barrenness and barren. X-Ray causes slower movements in sperms or standing and death of them in males while females, considering the measure of dose radiation .How much follicles are near to their maturing level, it causes temporary or permanent barren. Surveys indicate that receiving every 100 mSv, increase the rate of cancers' mortality with the inherited foreground from 25-25.5% [5]. Whereas, a fetus is the most sensitive member of the population against radiation; according to the statement of control and preventing disease centers "exposure to the radiation" especially during the second to fifteenth weeks of pregnancy can effectuate irreversible effects such as: sorts of the raucous, unnatural function of heart and brain, and lack of growth [6]. If an equal measure of radiation reaches each organ of the body, the most dangerous is for particular organs such as the thyroid gland, marrow, and genitals, which are called critical organs. Boshang explains that the most specific factors in protection against radiation are: 1-raising the distance 2-decreasing the time 3-using the guided shields [7]. By considering the third factor and also improve the awareness of staff for using leaden shields such as thyroid and gonad shields, we can prevent the injuries to the mentioned critical organs. An overall review of the previous study, indicates that radiologists and technologists who are employed in different sections have inadequate information about ionizing beams, or they underestimate its harms [11 − 8]. All the same, another study claims that reducing the dose level in X-Ray examinations is possible if imaging center staff get appropriate training [12]. Nowadays, by spreading information, clienteles of imaging centers inquire about potential perils of "imaging procedures." (one of every four patients or 25.3% ) [13], whereas studies have reported the lack of ability to answer correctly to common questions of patients [14]. Despite not giving correct information to patients which is inverse to professional and ethical principles, the awareness of ionizing radiation dangers amongst medical staff in imaging centers is essential to plan for accomplishing diagnostic procedures of disease; moreover, it correlates with improving the protection against radiation which is all the primary purpose of the forwarding study. Overall this essay involves 180 people including radiology students, radiology technologists, staff, radiology residents and radiologists Among the people in the case, 62 people were students (radiology residents and technologists), and 118 people were radiology staff (radiologists and radiographers). Moreover, radiology students who have passed the protection course were able to join the survey.
For measuring the awareness of participants, a prepared questionnaire which had a total of 22 questions, and its validity has been checked was used. The survey was divided into three sections of which: Demographics data (Questions in this part consist of: age, gender, work experience and Positioning of the person (student, staff)).
Furthermore, It has requested to everyone that they mention to their knowledge about the dangers of ionizing radiation and have they ever pass any training or reeducated course for radiation protection.
And Radiation protection awareness (Questions in this part have assessed in 7 categories: 1necessity of inform patients against dangers of ionizing radiation 2-sensitivity of people against radiation that it has divided into four groups and has questioned. 3-Assessing information about an expert who is legally responsible for unreasonable exposures to patients. 4-Assessing awareness of an expert who has the most contact with radiation. 5-Assessing information about the sensitivity of different tissues against radiation. 6-Be aware of probable disease from pollution. 7-Be mindful of dose optimization). And Assessing radiation dose levels (This part has nine questions which they investigate the knowledge of radiologists about dose levels. Furthermore, in questions107 2 to 9 for the purpose of assessing108 radiation109 dose level, participants are asked to estimate other requested doses by taking the dose110 of the chest X-Ray (PA) as a reference.
Mentioned questions were asked111 followed: 1-the average dose of chest X-Ray by msv112 2-the average dose of backgrounds beams in IRAN.3-lumbar spine X-Ray dose. 4-mammography dose 5-chest CT does 6-pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dose 7-whole body and PET-CT dose 8abdominal ultrasound dose 9-myocardial scintigraphy dose in nuclear medicine by using 99m Tcsestamibi).

Statistical analysis:
A descriptive analysis of the sample was performed. Categorical variables were expressed as percentages, and continuous variables as mean and standard deviation, respectively. The total questionnaire score and the two subscales (Radiation Protection and Dose Assessment) were expressed as median and interquartile ranges (IQR) and displayed on box-plot diagrams. The score differences related to three questionnaire sections among the two groups (radiology Staff and radiography students) were evaluated using the t-test. The questionnaire reliability was assessed in terms of internal consistency utilizing the Cronbach's alpha (0.85_). A P-value of less than 0.05 was set as a threshold for statistical sig-nuisance. Statistical analysis was carried out using software SPSS version 22. Table 1 demonstrate that the demographics of participants consider their age and gender, the knowledge of radiation protection in 4 levels (excellent, good, sufficient, and insufficient) and relative trainings. All 180 participants completed the questionnaire. The average age for radiology residents, and radiography staff reported 22.5, 35.6 years old, respectively (t-test p<0.05). Radiology students and radiography staff constitute 45.5% and 34.6% of males participants and 55.5% and 65.5% of females respectively in this survey (chi-square test, p > 0.05). The questionnaire have acceptable internal reliability (α= 0.780; CI 95 0.762 -0.852). The quantity of consistency in the internal reliability of the questionnaire was also investigated amongst participants. Cronbach's α coefficients were 0.760 (CI 95 0.746 -0.796), 0.727 (CI 95 0.688 -0.744) and 0.797 (CI 95 0.696 -0.835), respectively. Regarding perceived knowledge in participants, it has shown that radiology staff had the most information in good level ( 40.5% ) compared to radiology students ( 36.1% ); moreover, their knowledge in the excellent level was by far the lowest amount 6.6% for radiology students and 10.3% for radiology staff. Fact, 41% of radiology residents had sufficient information (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.05). Fig1 indicates the total questionnaire scores in different charts. All there tables give information for radiology students and radiology staff. Chart A illustrates the scores of radiation protection knowledge. In which radiology students got the score between 3 to 4 out of 5 while radiology staff got the score, approximately between1.8 to 2.8 out of 4 (Kruskal-Wallis test p < 0.001). Chart B shows the amount of dose level assessment. The count of dose level assessment reported around 4.5 out of 8.5 for radiology staff while for radiology students. It was approximately 2.5 out of the maximum of 8.

Results
(Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.001). Regarding chart C, the overall knowledge among both groups was as followed: about 7.7 out of more than 12.5 and 5.7 out of 11.7 for radiology staff and radiology students respectively, (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.001).

Radiation protection knowledge:
Fig 2 gives a describes of the statistics of radiology staff and radiology students' education to survey questions about general radiation protection issues. Considering to chart 1, shows that the majority numbers of both radiology students (79.1%) and radiology staff (about 87%) were aware of the necessity to inform patients about the dangers of radiation exposure. As can be seen, the highest percentage about the responses to the question of "which patients have the most sensitivity to ionizing radiation?" was reported for radiology students (slightly less than 50%) as one-year-old girl while around 45% of radiology staff answered that the risk of radiation damage does not depend on age or sex.
A high rate of radiology students and radiology staff have correctly answer that all items in the bar chart 3 are responsible for unnecessary patient exposure and lack of optimization.
Considerably about 6% of both groups (lowest percent) responded that only radiological staffs are responsible for this matter (Chi-square test, p < 0.05).
Interventional radiologists and cardiologists accounted for the second-highest amount of exposed professionals, at the same time, nuclear medicine has answered as the most exposed category with the percentage of approximately 38 and just above 50 for radiology students and radiology staff, respectively. About 64% of radiology students and 40% of radiology staff considered breast as the most sensitive tissue.
Regarding the question about " which of the following disease may be a result of stochastic radiation damage? " the percentages of those who answered all times ( dermatitis, leukemia, alopecia, and cataract ) were the highest ratio slightly more than 40% and around 50% for radiology students and staff respectively. The final question, which is described in bar chart number 7, is about the meaning of dose optimization. As can be seen, the above rates of answers were reported for radiology staff (around 60%). All the same, the percentage for radiology students who answered all mentioned items in the chart were the same as their answer that was said, in radiological tests (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.05). Table 2 gives a breakdown of the percentage of answers to the questions about the dose of natural background, commonly performed imaging examinations given by radiology students and staff.

Knowledge of recommended radiation dose levels for the main imaging procedures:
The two exanimated groups estimated the average dose for a PA chest radiograph, 0.01 -0.1 mSv in this way: 29 % and 49.5 % of radiology students and radiology staff, respectively (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.05).
6.6 % of radiography students and significantly less than that, 2.9 % of radiology staff in Iran answer the average dose of the natural background radiation correctly.
Regarding the average dose due to a lumbar X-Ray examination, 9.8 % of radiography students and around three times more than that, 27.7% of radiology staff gave the correct dose value.
The average dose due to mammography was known by 19.7% of radiography students and 17.8% of radiology staff; all the same 10.1 in total consider mammography as a radiation-free procedure should be a matter of concern (8.1 % of radiography students and 2% of radiology staff). The next figure shows the average dose because of the non-contrast chest CT examinations in which it was correctly estimated by 45.9% and slightly less 45.1% for radiography students and radiology residents, respectively. Considerably for radiography students and radiology staff, those who answered that CT involves no radiation exposure, the ratio is 0% for the former survey respondents and 1% for the later. The MRI examination was correctly identified as radiation-free by 62.3% of radiography students and significantly 88.5% of radiology staff. As for nuclear medicine procedures, the correct estimation ratio for the radiation dose of PET-CT examinations was 20% of radiography students and 36.7% of radiology staff ; ( Fisher's exact test, p < 0.05 ); however the average dose due to myocardial scintigraphy has estimated by 16.7 % of the former respondents and 55.7% for the later; ( Fisher's exact test, p < 0.05 ). Furthermore, as can be seen, 3.4% of radiology students about PET-CT examinations and exactly half of that (1.7%) for myocardial scintigraphy thought that these examinations are not associated with radiation exposure, this ratio for radiology staff was 2% for the former analysis and 0% for the later.

Discussion
Our study found that most staff and students believe that awareness of the dangers of radiation to patients is essential. It also turned out that doctors were not aware of the dangers of radiation.  35,17]. based on our study and confirmation of studies Briggs-kamara et al. and Ria et al., it was found that patients' awareness was deficient [17,13], It should be noted that in our study, most radiation students and staff thought they were well aware and did not need to undergo training. However, in studies Masoumi et al. and Rostamizade et al., it was found that training reduces radiation risks and increases radiation awareness [35,36].
Several cases raise the level of radiation knowledge in staff, patients, and physicians. Continuous beam training increases radiation safety and reduces fear of radiation [19,35,36], as well as determining radiation levels and dose level references for each region [12] and monitoring personnel radiation measures are two other effective strategies [34]. In our study, it was clearly demonstrated that the dose received in nuclear medicine tests (more than 500 times that of Chest PA) increased the risk of cancer in younger people, especially in vulnerable tissues. Research by Huang et al. have also pointed out that although PET / CT facilitates the diagnosis, it also increases the risk of cancer.
Therefore, these examinations should be justified, and appropriate measures should be taken to reduce the dose received [39]. More than 50% of our subjects have erroneous dose assessment data on CT Scans, which has been found in Lee CI et al. [8], And in Rostami et al. [36], Which may imply that ionizing imaging may give physicians very high precision, still, physicians Neither do they give patients information about the risk of a CT scan nor are they able to estimate the exact dose of imaging for specific anatomical areas. A study by Zhou et al. Also acknowledged that about 55% did not estimate the radiation dose level for correct radiology tests, and. Also, about 60% underestimated the risk of cancer from the Abdominal CT scan (lack of radiation knowledge) [29]. In a study by Zhou et al., It was found that about 11% and 25% believed that MRI and ultrasound had ionizing radiation (lack of radiation knowledge), in comparison, about 10% of the subjects considered radiation knowledge to be irrelevant. And it should be noted that this study clearly (about 40%) among radiology students and (10%) among radiology staff considered MRI tests with ionizing radiation [29].
A study by Faggioni et al. found that people with less radiation knowledge had higher self-esteem. This issue led to poor self-esteem among medical students, which may be one of the psychological factors for inattention to learn about the subject of radiation knowledge [38]. L.Borgen and his colleagues have found that radiology experts and residents have more radiation and shielding information from physicians due to the specialized nature of their units, which confirms our results [14]. In their study, Dehghani and colleagues found that only 6% of the subjects were well aware that this result is very similar to our results, although it should be noted that our statistical population was much larger [23].

Conclusion
Most students and staff believed that they had an excellent or sufficient level of awareness of ionizing radiation. Overall, 45% of students and staff rarely had any training or retraining (37%). Radiology students had a better level of knowledge about radiation protection than team, while team had better estimates in discussing dose assessment. In general, students and staff did not have sufficient information about radiation-related illnesses. Students and staff had accurate estimates of the dose received in a PA chest and the average dose of background radiation. Both groups had little information on mammography, but had good knowledge of ultrasound, MRI, and CT scans. In general, staff and students had a good understanding of nuclear medicine dose assessment. This study was reviewed by the Ethics Committee of Behbahan School of Medical Sciences. Therefore the Ethics Committee of Behbahan Paramedical School stated that this study does not require ethical approval.Informed consent was obtained from participants information.The results of this study were provided to the participants.

Consent for publication:
All participants included in this research gave written informed consent to publish the data contained within this study. In this study, informed consent was obtained from all participants. The participants was illiterate when consent for publication was requested, written informed consent for the publication of this data was given.

Availability of data and material:
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
We declare that we have no significant competing financial, professional, or personal interests that might have influenced the performance or presentation of the work described in this manuscript.
We have described us potential competing financial, professional, and/or personal interests in the space.

Funding:
No funding was obtained for this study. Tables Table 1 Sample demographics (age, gender, and level of radiation protection awareness and training). SD = standard deviation. *t-test **Chi-square test. P < 0.05 indicates statistical significance.

Supplementary Files
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