TITLE:
Assessing the Impact of Regulations on Radiation Safety Culture and Practices in Radiology Departments
AUTHORS:
Saad Alqahtani, Khaled Soliman, Khaled Altuwayjiri, Mohammed Al Shehri, Yahya Jubran, Alwaleed Al Hussein, Nawaf Alanazi, Nawaf Alanazi, Fahad Alqarni, Hela Alqahtani, Ahmed Jowana
KEYWORDS:
Impact, Radiation Safety Culture, Regulations, Accreditation, Practice, Radiology Departments
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics,
Vol.12 No.8,
August
30,
2024
ABSTRACT: Background: The need to establish a strong culture around radiation safety is derived from the assertion that medical practitioners, patients, and third parties should not be exposed to unnecessary radiation. Authorities have endeavored to enact policies to protect all employers and patients in radiology departments. Objectives: To assess the impact of radiation safety practices and regulations on the ongoing improvements in radiation safety culture and practices in radiology departments. This will be achieved through a subjective assessment of national and international rules and regulations by healthcare professionals. Materials and Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey in the radiology departments of three JCI-accredited hospitals in the Riyadh region to identify and assess the impact of national radiation regulations and the accompanying processes on the improvement of radiation safety culture and practices in radiology departments. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the grading system results among various groups of respondents, based on their educational level. Also, there are statistically significant differences between the assessments of safety level results in the answers provided by various groups of respondents according to education level in favor of the master’s degree. Conclusion: The study concludes that technicians with a diploma degree require stricter regulation. Furthermore, the results of this study suggest that an exposure tracking system and a regulatory action supporting it may be useful in the ongoing task of improving patients’ radiation safety.