Background and aims: 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 there is little awareness of radiation protection in practice.
Objectives: To assess the awareness and knowledge of medical staff (cardiologists, nurses, and technicians) working in the cardiac catheterization laboratory of occupational radiation protection tools and detect areas of defects in their knowledge.
Methods: We conducted a validated questionnaire to 180 medical staff working in a cardiac catheterization laboratory.
Results: We surveyed a total of 180 subjects from different institutions. There were 103 (57.2%) cardiologists, 53 (29.4%) nurses, and 24 (13.3%) technologists. Although almost all staff members 176 (97.8%) always wore a lead apron, only 43 (23.9%) wore a thyroid collar and lead glasses 17(9.4%). The rate of wearing a radiation dosimeter was insufficient 85 (47.2%). A few subjects knew 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 were significantly wearing dosimeters than staff with fewer years of experience (p<0.011).
Conclusion: Medical staff in cardiac catheterization laboratory need more radiation protection knowledge and education.