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 non-radiologist 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. Results: The mean total scores of the physicians before and after training were 7±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.