Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, 6306a John Orr Building, Doornfontein, Corner Simert and Biet St., Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Office 6105D, West Wing North, John Orr Building, Doornfontein Campus, Corner Siemert and Biet St., Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
Health Phys. 2023 Mar 1;124(3):208-216. doi: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001655. Epub 2023 Jan 5.
Worldwide, radiographers' radiation protection practices vary. In South Africa, evidence of diagnostic radiographers' suboptimal radiation protection practices has been reported, but the reasons for these practices and suggestions to improve practices were lacking. Therefore, this study explored radiation protection among South African diagnostic radiographers. This study used an explanatory, sequential, mixed-method approach. Data were collected in three phases. Phase I, the quantitative phase, used an online questionnaire and respondents from Phase I interested in participating in Phase II, the qualitative phase, were interviewed, yielding 13 in-depth semi-structured telephone interviews. In Phase III, eight radiography managers co-constructed change strategies to optimize radiation protection in South Africa in two focus group interviews. Radiation protection was suboptimal despite diagnostic radiographers having a good attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control toward radiation protection and optimal radiation protection knowledge. Varying attitudes to radiation protection, lack of resources, and support from radiography management and healthcare teams contributed to suboptimal radiation protection practices. Radiography managers suggested increasing radiation protection awareness, ameliorating the diminished stature of the radiographer in the healthcare team, and increasing the availability of optimal quality resources. South African diagnostic radiographers' radiation protection knowledge was optimal, but the implementation of radiation protection varied and was influenced by multiple factors. A radiation protection culture supported by management is advocated to optimize radiation protection. However, ultimately radiation protection practices are incumbent on the individual radiographers' choice to practice radiation protection.
在全球范围内，放射技师的辐射防护实践存在差异。在南非，已经报道了诊断放射技师辐射防护实践不佳的证据，但缺乏这些实践的原因和改进实践的建议。因此，本研究探讨了南非诊断放射技师的辐射防护情况。本研究采用了解释性、顺序性、混合方法的方法。数据分三个阶段收集。第一阶段，定量阶段，使用在线问卷，对第一阶段感兴趣并愿意参加第二阶段（定性阶段）的受访者进行了访谈，共进行了 13 次深入的半结构化电话访谈。在第三阶段，八名放射科经理在两次焦点小组访谈中共同构建了优化南非辐射防护的变革策略。尽管诊断放射技师对辐射防护有良好的态度、主观规范和感知行为控制，以及对最佳辐射防护知识的了解，但辐射防护仍不理想。对辐射防护的不同态度、资源匮乏以及来自放射科管理和医疗团队的支持不足，导致辐射防护实践不佳。放射科经理建议提高辐射防护意识，改善放射技师在医疗团队中的地位下降的状况，并增加最佳质量资源的可用性。南非诊断放射技师的辐射防护知识是最佳的，但辐射防护的实施情况存在差异，并受到多种因素的影响。倡导由管理层支持的辐射防护文化，以优化辐射防护。然而，最终辐射防护实践取决于个别放射技师选择实践辐射防护的意愿。
