title: Assessing the Effectiveness of Risk Communication for Maintenance Workers Who Deal With Induced Radioactivity Management of Medical Linear Accelerators.
abstract: In Japan, an amended law that mandates levels of unintended induced radioactivity has been in effect since 1 April 2012. According to the new regulation, if the concentration of induced radioactivity in affected parts is above the clearance level, the parts must be regarded as radioactive even if they weigh less than 1 kg. This regulation reform raises several new issues concerning medical linear accelerators, including how to determine the decay period for induced radioactivity before maintenance can be performed and how to identify what parts should be considered radioactive waste. The authors performed several risk communication (RC) activities aimed at improving the understanding of maintenance workers at medical accelerator manufacturers and establishing good guidelines by involving stakeholders. For this purpose, a working group was established and conducted RC activities, such as holding opinion exchange meetings between medical staff and maintenance workers and creating a booklet to answer questions from maintenance workers. To evaluate these activities, three questionnaire surveys were conducted between 2011 and 2014. According to the results of this study, the ratio of maintenance workers who accepted "The decay period is within one week" was approximately 60% at the third survey and significantly increased (P < 0.0001) during the survey period. Approximately 25% of the maintenance workers felt that not enough information was provided about the decay period, and approximately 63% thought that the information provided on the health effects of radiation was sufficient. These results suggest that the present RC was successful.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Radiological Technology, Japan Labour Health and Welfare Organization Yokohama Rosai Hospital, 3211, Kozukue-chou, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-city, Kanagawa, Japan; †Graduate School of Health Science, Suzuka University of Medical Science, 1001-1, Kishioka-chou Suzuka, Mie 510-0293, Japan; ‡Imaging Center, ST. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital, 2-16-1, Sugao, Miyamae, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan; §Medical Quantum Science, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan; **Diagnostic Imaging, Kawasaki Municipal Tama Hospital, 1-30-37, Syukugawara, Tama-ku, Kawasak-cityi, Kanagawa 214-8525, Japan; ††Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6, Minami, Wako-city, Saitama 351-0197, Japan; ‡‡Department of Radiology Service, Shiga University of medical Science Hospital, Setatsukinowa-chou, Ootsu-city, Shiga 520-2192, Japan; §§Department of Radiology, National Hospital Organization Chiba East Hospital, 673, Nitona-cyo, Cyuou-ku, Chiba-city, Chiba 260-8712, Japan; ***Department of Nuclear Medicine and Tracer Kinetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan; †††Department of Radiological Technology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, University Hospital, Mizonokuchi, 3-8-3, Mizonokuchi, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa 213-8507, Japan; ‡‡‡Department of Radiology, NTT Medical Center Tokyo, 5-9-22, Higashi-Gotannda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8625, Japan; §§§Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tsukiji 5-1-1, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maehara
authors.forename: Toshioh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujibuchi
authors.forename: Mitsue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kida
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ooyama
authors.forename: Genki
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horitsugi
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hiraki
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsukamoto
authors.forename: Jyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Itami
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D012306:Risk; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods*