Survey on Ionizing Radiation Including Gamma-Ray Exposure among the Medical Staff Working in the Non-Intensive Ward of Farshchian Cardiovascular Hospital in Hamadan, Iran

Background and Objective: With the increase of cardiovascular diseases worldwide, diagnostic and therapeutic measures, particularly nuclear medicine technology, have also increased. A multiplicity of diagnostic procedures are used for treating many patients with cardiovascular diseases in Farshchian Cardiovascular Hospital, Hamadan, Iran; therefore, the staff of this hospital, especially non-intensive care workers, have encountered a large number of these patients and have fear and concerns caused by this exposure. In this regard, this study aimed to determine the exposure of staff working in non-intensive care units of this Cardiovascular Hospital to ionizing radiation, including gamma-ray. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in which 40 film badges (for radiation measurement) were attached to staff working in two separated inpatient wards (Ward A and Ward B) from non-intensive wards of Farshchian Cardiovascular Hospital in three separate shifts (morning, evening, and night) and in three occupational categories, including nurses, health workers, and service provider staff.[A1]  The amount of radiation exposure of people (in mSv) was measured in two separate sections for four mounths (the first two months, the second two months) and SPSS version 26 software was used to analyze the data. Results: Exposure to ionizing radiation, including gamma-ray, in all three occupational categories of nurses, health workers, and service providers was less than 0.05 mSv in both wards, all below the risk threshold. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the exposure of nurses, health workers, and service providers working in the studied wards to ionizing radiation (e.g., gamma-ray) was within the permissible limit; therefore, the working environment of these employees is safe to take care of patients  [A1]There is one sentence in Persian abstract which was not translated here. Please check.