title: Radiation exposure--do urologists take it seriously in Turkey?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A questionnaire was administered to urologists to evaluate attitudes and behaviors about protection from radiation exposure during fluoroscopy guided endourological procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The questionnaire was e-mailed to 1,482 urologists, including urology residents, specialists and urologists holding all levels of academic degrees, between May and June 2011. The questionnaire administered to study participants was composed of demographic questions, and questions on radiation exposure frequency, and the use of dosimeters and flexible protective clothes. If a respondent reported not using dosimeters or protective clothes, additional questions asked for the reason.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1,482 questionnaires 394 (26.58%) were returned, of which 363 had completed answers. A total of 307 physicians (84.58%) were exposed to ionizing radiation, of whom 79.61% stated that they perform percutaneous nephrolithotomy at the clinic. Fluoroscopy guidance was the initial choice of 96.19% of urologists during percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Despite the common use of lead aprons (75.24%) most urologists did not use dosimeters (73.94%), eyeglasses (76.95%) or gloves (66.67%) while 46.44% always used thyroid shields during fluoroscopy. When asked why they did not use protective clothing, the most common answers were that protective clothes are not ergonomic and not practical.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results clearly highlight the lack of use of ionizing radiation protection devices and dosimeters during commonly performed fluoroscopy guided endourological procedures among urologists in Turkey.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir and Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey. drhaluks@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Haluk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Söylemez
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Altunoluk
authors.forename: Yaşar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Ahmet Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sancaktutar
authors.forename: Necmettin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Penbegül
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D014572:Urology