A Questionnaire Survey on Radiation Protection among Medical Staff Working in Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

It Is Essential for cardiologists, technologists, and nurses working in the cardiac catheterization laboratory to understand radiation protection. However, protective equipment usage is still low, wearing dosimeters is also low, and their needs to be more aware of radiation protection in practice. This study aims at assessing the awareness and knowledge of medical staff (cardiologists, nurses, and technicians) working in the cardiac catheterization laboratory of occupational radiation protection tools and detecting areas of defects in their knowledge. Therefore a validated questionnaire to 180 medical staff working in a cardiac catheterization laboratory was conducted. A total of 180 subjects from different institutions were surveyed. There were 103 (57.2%) cardiologists, 53 (29.4%) nurses, and 24 (13.3%) technologists. Although almost all staff members 176 (97.8%) always wear a lead apron, only 43 (23.9%) wear a thyroid collar and lead glasses 17(9.4%). The rate of wearing a radiation dosimeter was insufficient at 85 (47.2%). A few subjects know the radiation exposure dose of the procedure 33 (18.3%), and slightly about 46 (25.6%) had attended lectures on radiation protection. Cardiologists who were aware of the radiation exposure dose of each procedure were significantly more likely to wear dosimeters than those who were not (P<0.005). Experienced cardiac catheterization staff wear dosimeters more than the staff with fewer years of experience (P<0.011). In conclusion, it could be noticed that medical staff in cardiac catheterization laboratories need more radiation protection knowledge and education