The Effectiveness of a Radiation Safety Training Program in Increasing the Radiation Safety Knowledge of Physicians: A Pilot Study

Background Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation are widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Considering the potential risks of radiation, radiation safety training courses are important for medical staff. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of one-day radiation safety training program in increasing the radiation safety knowledge of physicians. Methods In this descriptive-analytical study, subjects were 12 physicians (6 general practitioners and 6 nonradiologist specialists) participated in the training program organized by Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in 2018. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for surveying physicians before and after the training. The mean and standard deviation of the scores were first calculated. Then, the pre- and post-test scores were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and the correlation of these scores with their age, gender, expertise area, and work experience was examined by Spearman s correlation test. Findings The mean total scores of the physicians before and after training were 7.00±2.56 (ranged 3-11) and 11.92± 2.31 (ranged 8-15) out of 18, respectively. The radiation safety knowledge of physicians significantly increased after training (P 0.001). No significant relationship was found between their scores and their age, gender, expertise area and work experience. Conclusion The radiation safety training program was effective in increasing the radiation safety knowledge of physicians and it can be used for a larger community of physicians.