فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

BACKGROUND: Medical radiation workers are potentially at a risk of unwanted ionizing radiationexposures. This study assessed the radiation protection knowledge, attitude, and practice (RP‑KAP)of health‑care workers who are occupationally exposed to radiation regarding protecting themselvesfrom radiation.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was cross‑sectional in design and was carried out in 16hospitals affiliated to the Tehran University of Medical Sciences between May and September 2014.Total health‑care workers who were occupationally exposed to radiation comprising 670 individualswere included in the study based on census sampling method. In total, 413 individuals consentedto complete an anonymous 32‑item questionnaire comprising single best choice questions with anumerical value assigned to each correct answer. Each set of RP‑KAP questions was scored andcategorized as poor, medium, and good. The effect of independent variables for prediction of RP‑KAPwas explored using linear regression analyses.RESULTS: A significant number of participants had poor RP‑knowledge (78.9%), RP‑attitude (70.7%),and RP‑practice (32.4%). Based on linear regression analyses, it was found that field of study (β = 0.1,P = 0.001), marital status (β = −0.14, P = 0.01), and level of education (β = 0.2, P < 0.001) were thepredictors of higher RP‑knowledge. In‑service RP‑training (β = 0.1, P = 0.04) was associated withan increased RP‑attitude. Being a woman (β = 0.2, P < 0.001) and longer years of experience withradiation (β = 0.2, P < 0.001) were significantly related to better practice.CONCLUSION: In‑service training with appropriate qualified and up‑to‑date materials based onradiation workers’ educational needs and approved protocols and guidelines is recommended.