Evaluation of the Level of Protection in Radiology Departments of Kermanshah, Iran

Introduction: Radiation protection is an important safety issue for radiographers and patients. The aim of this study was to assess the observance of radiation protection regulations in radiology departments of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Materials and Methods: In total, 48 radiographers and 8 radiography rooms were evaluated in three hospitals of Kermanshah, Iran. Additionally, 120 patients were randomly selected in the present study. For data collection, a questionnaire on radiation protection devices, radiographers, and patients was completed. Data were analyzed, using Microsoft Excel. Results: Based on the analysis, 56.8% of radiation protection devices were accessible to radiographers. Overall, 81.3% of radiographers stated that they utilized film badges for radiographic procedures, while only 71.7% had used these badges in practice. Additionally, 54.2% of radiographers claimed that they regularly performed medical check-ups; however, based on the documents available at personnel offices, only 43.8% had taken this measure into account. Also, 60.4% of radiographers claimed that they had participated in annual training courses, while based on the records, only 41.7% had participated in such courses. Conclusion: The majority of radiographers had no regard for radiation protection principles for either themselves or the patients. Apparently, not only hospital authorities, but also heads of departments ignore radiation protection principles for the patients and radiographers.