Jones Eric, Mathieson Kathleen
*Radiation Safety Officer, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD 21402; †Associate Professor, A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ 85206.
Health Phys. 2016 May;110(5 Suppl 2):S52-8. doi: 10.1097/HP.0000000000000485.
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.
