title: Relating factors to wearing personal radiation protectors among healthcare professionals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With increasing use of medical radiologic procedures, wearing proper protector should be emphasized to reduce occupational radiation exposures. This research describes the rates of lead apron wearing for radiation protection and assessed occupational factors related to wearing rates for various types of healthcare professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey through a website, on-site visits, fax, and mail. Of the 13,489 participants, 8858 workers who could not completely separate themselves from radiological procedure areas. Their general characteristics (sex and age), work history (job title, duration of employment, and hospital type), and practices (frequency of radiation procedures, ability to completely separate from radiation, and frequency of wearing protective lead aprons) were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean rate of lead apron wearing during radiologic procedures was 48.0 %. The rate was different according to sex (male: 52.9 %, female: 39.6 %), hospital type (general hospital: 63.0 %, hospital: 51.3 %, clinic: 35.6 %, dental hospital/clinic: 13.3 %, public health center: 22.8 %), and job title (radiologic technologist: 50.3 %, doctor: 70.3 %, dentist/dental hygienist: 15.0 %, nurse/nursing assistant: 64.5 %) (p< 0.001). By logistic regression analysis stratified by job title, use of lead aprons by radiologic technologists and nurses/nursing assistants was associated with hospital type and exposure frequency score. For doctors, apron wearing was associated with employment duration. For dentists/dental hygienists, apron wearing was associated with the exposure frequency score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To improve working environments for healthcare professionals exposed to radiation, it is necessary to consider related factors, such as job title, duration of employment, and hospital type, when utilizing a planning and management system to prevent radiation-related health problems.
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do Republic of Korea.
authors: Yunjeong
authors: Y
authors: Heo
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do Republic of Korea.
authors: Hosun
authors: H
authors: Chun
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do Republic of Korea.
authors: Seonghoon
authors: S
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Wonjin
authors: W
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Taewon
authors: T
authors: Jang
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do Republic of Korea.
authors: Jongtae
authors: J
authors: Park
keywords: Healthcare professionals; Personal radiation protectors; Preventive measures