Ionizing Radiation Hazards among Radiology Health Team

Abstract

Background: Ionizing radiation is an energy type in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles. Ionizing radiation as a diagnostic tool in medical fields leading to different health hazards to radiology health team. Aim of the Study: To assess the ionizing radiation hazards among Radiology Health Team. Subject and Methods: A descriptive research design was utilized. Setting: The study was conducted in radiology departments in 4 urban hospitals at Fayoum city: (surgical Fayoum university hospital, medical Fayoum university hospital, Fayoum Health Insurance hospital, Fayoum General Hospital). Sample: A purposive sample of all available radiology health team who are working with X-Ray devices in the selected settings. The total sample reached 150 of radiology health team. Tools: Three tools were used; 1 st tool Ionizing Radiation Hazards Structured Questionnaire which included:1-socio-demographic characteristics,2-Radiology health team' medical history,3-Radiology health team' knowledge regarding ionizing radiation. 2 nd tool Observational checklist of the ionizing radiation protection practices among radiology health team. 3 rd tool Observational checklist of Environmental safety. Results: the studied sample ' age ranged between 20 and 55 years old, with mean 34.04 ± 8.83 years. 40.7% of the studied sample were aged between 30 and 39 years old, with slightly more male 62.0%. job title, 43.3% were radiology technician, radiologist 23.4%, nurse 33.3 and had 6 to 10 years of experience 30.7%. Hazards exposure 53.5% of the studied sample reported physics hazards followed by biological and physical hazards 39.3% then chemical hazards 22.0%. 52.0% of the studied sample had satisfactory knowledge regarding ionizing radiation and 48.0% of them had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding ionizing radiation. 68.0% in the study sample had inadequate practicing regarding ionizing radiation protection and 32.0% of them had adequate practicing regarding ionizing radiation protection. Results portrays that the environmental safety was adequate in only Fayoum insurance hospital 25.6% compared with other studied hospitals Conclusion: There was negative correlation between knowledge and health problems. knowledge had positive correlations with practices, also work hazards and health problems Recommendation: Educational programs about ionizing radiation hazards and protection practices should be provided obligatory to all radiology health team prior to work. (IR) is a type of energy released by atoms that travels in the form of electromagnetic waves gamma or X-rays or particles neutrons, beta or alpha. The spontaneous disintegration of atoms is called radioactivity, and the excess energy emitted is a form of ionizing radiation. Unstable elements which disintegrate and emit ionizing radiation are called radionuclides (Matthias et al., 2020). Medical use of radiation accounts for 98 % of the population dose contribution from all artificial sources, and represents 20% of the total population exposure. Annually worldwide, more than 3600 million diagnostic radiology examinations are performed, 37 million nuclear medicine procedures are carried out, and 7.5 million radiotherapy treatments are given. Ionizing radiation plays an important role in the modern world. The use of X-rays brought about a revolution in diagnostics (WHO, 2016).