European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

LEVEL OF AWARENESS ABOUT HAZARDS OF IONIZING RADIATIONS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS AND STAFF OF RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY

Muhammad Tayyeb MD, MBBS*, Ali Jaan MD, MBBS, Farhan Khalid MBBS, Hira Saleem MD, MBBS, Aniqa Raheem MBBS, Aftab Sharif MBBS, Ehtesham Zahoor MBBS, Dania Rahim Qureshi MD, MBBS

ABSTRACT

Background: Ionizing radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation that produces ionization in the substances that are irradiated. Exposure to these invisible radiations is inescapable for medical students and staff members during diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and it can cause various health problems. Objective: To assess the level of awareness of medical students and staff of Radiology Department about hazards of Ionizing Radiations. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study in order to know about level of awareness regarding ionizing radiation risks in the staff members of the radiology department of Public Hospital Lahore and Medical students of Lahore from April 2016 to June 2016. The study included about 100 participants. A questionnaire was formulated and filled by the participants with 100% response rate. Final data were analyzed with the help of SPSS version 16.0 and the descriptive statistics e.g. percentage and frequencies were calculated. Results: Out of 100 participants, 80% were medical students while 20% were staff members of radiology department. 58 participants were confident in their knowledge of ionizing radiation and its hazards. 57 participants considered that CT scan is not a dangerous source of radiation and 85% of our participants were of the view that x. ray examination dose varies with age and size of body. 89% participants had an opinion that radiation badges are helpful in preventing radiation exposure. 30 participants said that ionizing radiations are used in MRI and 87% participants were of the opinion that there is a need to enhance awareness among the staff members of radiology department. Conclusion: Majority of the participants included in this study were aware of the harmful effects of excessive use of radiations on health but there is a proportion of medical students and staff members who are unaware of harmful effects of radiations and protective measures that must be used in radiological procedures. Major portion of people and staff observe negligence in adopting protective measures during radiological procedures. So, there is a need to enhance awareness among the people regarding life threatening and debilitating hazards of radiations so that they may adopt protective measures.

Keywords: Awareness, Ionizing radiations, Hazards.