Are the urology operating room personnel aware about the ionizing radiation?

A questionnaire was sent by e-mail to urology surgery room personnel in Turkey, between June and August 2013. The questionnaire included demographic questions and questions regarding radiation exposure and protection.

Results:

In total, 127 questionnaires were answered. Of them, 62 (48.8%) were nurses, 51 (40.2%) were other personnel, and 14 (11%) were radiological technicians. In total, 113 (89%) participants had some knowledge of radiation, but only 56 (44.1%) had received specific education or training regarding the harmful effects of radiation. In total, 92 (72.4%) participants indicated that they used a lead apron and a thyroid shield. In the subgroup that had received education about the harmful effects of radiation, the use ratio for all protective procedures was 21.4% (n=12); this ratio was only 2.8% (n=2) for those with no specific training; the difference was statistically significant (p=0.004). Regarding dosimeters, the use rates were 100% for radiology technicians, 46.8% for nurses, and 31.4% for other hospital personnel; these differences were statistically significant (p<0.001). No significant relationship between working period in the surgery room, number of daily fluoroscopy procedures, education, task, and use of radiation protection measures was found.

Conclusions:

It is clear that operating room-allied health personnel exposed to radiation do not have sufficient knowledge of ionizing radiation and they do not take sufficient protective measures.

Keywords:
Radiation Injuries; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures

Questions	Answers	n	(%)
Job	Other personnel	51	(40.2%)
	Nurse	62	(48.8%)
	Radiological technician	14	(11%)
Mean age	32.01±5.9 years
Education	Primary school	19	(15%)
	High school	30	(23.6%)
	2-years associate degree	30	(23.6%)
	Bachelor's degree	47	(37%)
	Postgraduate	1	(0.8%)
For how long (years) have you worked in a urology	<1 year	16	(12.6%)
surgery room?	1-5 years	70	(55.1%)
	6-10 years	24	(18.9%)
	>10 years	17	(13.4%)
Your corporation	Private Hospital	16	(12.6%)
	State Hospital	19	(15%)
	Training and research Hospital	52	(40.9%)
	University Hospital	40	(31.5%)

Questions	Answers		n (%)
What is the average number of endourology cases you attend daily?	1	7	(5.5%)
	2	39	(30.7%)
	3	39	(30.7%)
	4	18	(14.2%)
	>4	24	(18.9%)
Of the daily operations you attend, how many involve fluoroscopy?	1	44	(34.6%)
	2	40	(31.5%)
	3	27	(21.3%)
	4	9	(7.1%)
	>4	7	(5.5%)
Do you have dosimeter?	Yes	59	(46.5%)
	No	68	(53.5%)
Do you have monthly and yearly measurements from your dosimeter?	Yes	54	(42.5%)
	No	73	(57.5%)
Do you have an understanding of the harmful effects of radiation?	Yes	113	(89%)
	No	14	(11%)
Did you take specific training about the harmful effects of radiation?	Yes	56	(44.1%)
	No	71	(55.9%)
Which protective methods do you use against the effects of radiation?	Lead apron	13	(10.2%)
	Thyroid shield	4	(3.1%)
	Apron-Thyroid shield	92	(72.4%)
	Apron-Gloves	1	(0.8%)
	Apron-Thyroid shield-Gloves	1	(0.8%)
	Apron-Thyroid shield-Eyeglasses	2	(1.6%)
	Apron-Thyroid shield-Gloves-Eyeglasses	14	(11.0%)
Is there a radiation warning sign in the area(s) where fluoroscopy is used?	Ye s	62	(48.8%)
	No	65	(51.2%)

Job
	Other personnel	( )
	Nurse	( )
	Radiological technician	( )
Age		( )
	Education
	Primary school	( )
	High school	( )
	2-years associate degree	( )
	Bachelor's degree	( )
	Postgraduate	( )
For how long (years) have you worked in a urology surgery room?
	<1 year	( )
	1-5 years	( )
	6-10 years	( )
	>10 years	( )
Your corporation
	Private Hospital	( )
	State Hospital	( )
	Training and research hospitals	( )
	University Hospital	( )
What is the average number of endourology cases you attend daily?
	1	( )
	2	( )
	3	( )
	4	( )
	>4	( )
Of the daily operations you attend, how many involve fluoroscopy?
	1	( )
	2	( )
	3	( )
	4	( )
	>4	( )
Do you have dosimeter?
	Yes	( )
	No	( )
Do you have monthly and yearly measurements from your dosimeter?
	Yes	( )
	No	( )
Do you have an understanding of the harmful effects of radiation?
	Yes	( )
	No	( )
Did you take specific training about the harmful effects of radiation?
	Yes	( )
	No	( )
Which protective methods do you use against the effects of radiation?
	Lead apron	( )
	Thyroid shield	( )
	Gloves	( )
	Eyeglasses	( )
Is there a radiation warning sign in the area(s) where fluoroscopy is used?
	Yes	( )
	No	( )

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[1] Correspondence address: Adem Tok, MD, Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Kozlu, Zonguldak, Turkey, Telephone:+ 90 505 373-7138, E-mail: ademtok2003@yahoo.com