title: Radiation Safety among Workers in Health Services.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to survey health service workers regarding their radiation safety knowledge and practice. Participants were health service workers (n = 721) who received an anonymous online survey by email to test their radiation safety knowledge. A knowledge test of 15 questions was completed by 412 respondents. The overall average percent correct was 77.9%. Health physicists/medical physicists had the highest average percent score (93.5%), while physician assistants scored the lowest (60.0%). Of all the respondents, only 64.0% reported they participated in periodic radiation safety training at their place of employment. The most common topic selected where participants wanted additional training was in biological effects of radiation (41.0%). In conclusion, radiation safety training and education needs to be developed and planned effectively. Areas or specialties with poor radiation safety knowledge need to be addressed with corresponding safety measures.
authors.affiliation: *Radiation Safety Officer, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD 21402; †Associate Professor, A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ 85206.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mathieson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000592:standards*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000592:standards*; D012449:Safety; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult