Dessie Health Science College, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Department of Health Informatics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia.
PLoS One. 2023 May 25;18(5):e0286400. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286400. eCollection 2023.
Ionizing radiation is being used more frequently in medicine, which has been linked to recognized biological effects such as cancer and mortality. Radiology services are becoming more widely available in Ethiopian health facilities but there is no compiled record of worker's radiation dose. So, assessing the magnitude and identifying the associated factors of occupational radiation exposure dose among radiology personnel help to design strategies for radiation protection.
The study was designed to assess the occupational radiation exposure dose and associated factors among radiology personnel in eastern Amhara, northeast Ethiopia, 2021.
Cross-sectional study was conducted from March 25 to April 30, 2021, in 57 health institutions among 198 radiology personnel. The study comprised all eligible radiology personnel. The data were collected using an electronic-based (Google form) self-administered questionnaire, and document review. The data were entered into an excel spread sheet and then, exported to Stata 14 software. Linear regression model was used to analyse the data after checking its assumptions. Variables with a p-value < 0.25 were entered into a multiple linear regression analysis, and those with a p-value < 0.05 were judged significant. VIF was used to check for multi-collinearity. Coefficient of determination was used to check the model fitness.
The mean (± SD) annual shallow and deep dose equivalents of radiology personnel were 1.20 (± 0.75) and 1.02 (± 0.70) mSv, respectively. Body mass index (β = 0.104, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.14), practice of timing (β = -0.43, 95% CI: -0.73, -0.13), working experience (β = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.048, -0.032), and practice of distancing (β = -0.26, 95% CI: -0.49, -0.17) were found to be statistically significant factors of annual deep dose equivalent. In addition, body mass index (β = 0.113, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.15), practice of timing (β = -0.62 95% CI: -0.93, -0.31) and, working experience (β = -0.044, 95% CI: -0.053, -0.036 had statistically significant associations with annual shallow dose equivalent.
The annual dose equivalents were two times higher than the global average of annual per caput effective dose due to medical exposure. Body mass index, practice of timing, working experience, and practice of distancing were factors of occupational radiation exposure dose. Strategies focusing on increasing the skill, experience, and lifestyle of radiology personnel would be supreme important means to reduce occupational radiation exposure dose.
电离辐射在医学中的应用越来越频繁，这与癌症和死亡率等公认的生物学效应有关。放射科服务在埃塞俄比亚医疗机构中越来越普及，但没有关于工作人员辐射剂量的综合记录。因此，评估放射科工作人员的职业辐射暴露剂量及其相关因素有助于制定辐射防护策略。
本研究旨在评估 2021 年在埃塞俄比亚东北东部阿马哈拉地区放射科工作人员的职业辐射暴露剂量及其相关因素。
2021 年 3 月 25 日至 4 月 30 日，在 57 家卫生机构中对 198 名放射科工作人员进行了横断面研究。该研究包括所有符合条件的放射科工作人员。使用基于电子的（Google 表格）自我管理问卷和文件审查收集数据。数据被输入到 Excel 电子表格中，然后导出到 Stata 14 软件中。在检查假设后，使用线性回归模型分析数据。p 值<0.25 的变量被输入到多元线性回归分析中，p 值<0.05 的变量被判断为有统计学意义。方差膨胀因子用于检查多重共线性。决定系数用于检查模型拟合度。
放射科工作人员的平均（±SD）年浅层和深层剂量当量分别为 1.20（±0.75）和 1.02（±0.70）mSv。体重指数（β=0.104，95%置信区间：0.07，0.14）、计时实践（β=-0.43，95%置信区间：-0.73，-0.13）、工作经验（β=-0.04，95%置信区间：-0.048，-0.032）和距离实践（β=-0.26，95%置信区间：-0.49，-0.17）被发现是年度深层剂量当量的统计学显著因素。此外，体重指数（β=0.113，95%置信区间：0.08，0.15）、计时实践（β=-0.62，95%置信区间：-0.93，-0.31）和工作经验（β=-0.044，95%置信区间：-0.053，-0.036）与年度浅层剂量当量有统计学显著关联。
由于医疗照射，每年的剂量当量是全球人均有效剂量的两倍。体重指数、计时实践、工作经验和距离实践是职业辐射暴露剂量的因素。注重提高放射科工作人员的技能、经验和生活方式的策略将是降低职业辐射暴露剂量的重要手段。
