Radiology Technician Radiology Safety Proficiency Evaluation
Nisha Eapen
1
, Nisha Thundiyil
1
and Sheela Shenai
2
1
St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli, India
2
MOSC Medical College Hospital, Ernakulam, India
Keywords: Service Quality, Radiology Technicians, Radiation Safety, Knowledge, Practice, Attitude, Gap Analysis.
Abstract: This study, conducted at Iqraa International Hospital in Calicut, India, utilised a descriptive research design
to assess radiology technicians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning radiation safety. Results
revealed commendably high levels of knowledge (average score of 0.79) and practice (average score of 0.76),
along with very positive attitudes (average score of 4.27) towards safety measures. However, a slight gap of
3.1% between knowledge and practice scores suggests room for improvement in translating knowledge into
practical application. Moreover, a more significant gap of 9.15% between attitude and practice scores
indicates the need for better alignment between positive attitudes and their practical implementation. These
findings underscore the importance of strengthening the link between knowledge and practice while fostering
a unified approach to implementing radiation safety measures, ultimately enhancing safety for healthcare
professionals and patients alike.
1 INTRODUCTION
Radiation safety is an indispensable facet of
contemporary medical practice, underscored by its
profound impact on patient care and the well-being of
healthcare workers. The diligent application of
radiation safety protocols is essential to mitigate
potential risks associated with ionizing radiation,
ensuring that diagnostic and therapeutic interventions
remain effective while minimizing harm. Within this
context, radiology technicians are uniquely
responsible for the seamless execution of procedures
while adhering to stringent safety guidelines.
Evaluating their knowledge, practice, and attitude
regarding radiation safety becomes paramount in
maintaining service quality and patient welfare.
By meticulously evaluating the alignment
between theoretical understanding, practical
implementation, and the attitude towards radiation
safety protocols, this research endeavours to provide
valuable insights to enhance safety practices within
the department. In practical application, it is essential
to maintain radiation levels at the lowest feasible
intensity, and the notion of permissible doses should
not be misconstrued as entirely risk-free
(Khamtuikrua, 2020).
Furthermore, exploring potential gap disparities
between knowledge and practice and between
practice and attitude is an essential aspect of this
study. Such disparities, if identified, can offer a
nuanced understanding of the challenges radiology
technicians face in translating theoretical knowledge
into everyday practice and the influence of personal
attitudes and perceptions on safety-related behaviours
(Falavigna et al., 2019). Addressing these gaps can
pave the way for targeted interventions and training
programs, ultimately fostering a safer environment
for patients and healthcare providers. The study's
primary goal is to investigate radiation safety
awareness among radiology technicians due to the
intricate and sensitive nature of radiology procedures.
The study aims to evaluate the current safety
protocols, identify areas for enhancement, and
highlight the vital responsibility of technicians in
maintaining top-notch patient care and operational
standards at the hospital.
2 OBJECTIVES
• To evaluate the knowledge, practice, and
attitude of technicians regarding radiation
safety in the radiology department of Iqraa
International Hospital, Calicut.
• To analyse any gap disparities between
knowledge and practice, as well as between
practice and attitude of technicians
concerning radiation safety in the radiology
department at Iqraa International Hospital,
Calicut.
Eapen, N., Thundiyil, N. and Shenai, S.
Radiology Technician Radiology Safety Proficiency Evaluation.
DOI: 10.5220/0012831800003882
Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
In Proceedings of the 2nd Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies (PAMIR-2 2023), pages 273-276
ISBN: 978-989-758-723-8
Proceedings Copyright © 2024 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda.
273

3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
A descriptive research design was employed for this
study, in July 2020 which aimed at assessing the
knowledge, attitudes, and practices of radiology
technicians in the radiology department of Iqraa
International Hospital, Calicut. The sample included
a total of 30 respondents including X-ray technician,
CT technicians, MRI technicians, Cath lab
technicians, Mammogram technicians from different
sections of the radiology department.
3.1 Sources of Data
Primary data was collected through structured
questionnaires administered to radiology technicians,
capturing their demographic details and assessing
their knowledge and attitudes toward radiation safety.
Direct observation, using a checklist, was employed
to evaluate the technicians' safety practices.
Additionally, unstructured interviews were
conducted with study participants to gain insights into
departmental functions and operating procedures.
3.2 Data Collection Tools
3.2.1 Questionnaire
• A structured questionnaire was designed,
consisting of three sections. The first section
focused on demographic variables, while the
second section assessed knowledge related
to radiation safety across various domains.
The third section evaluated attitudes using a
Likert scale.
3.2.2 Checklist
• A checklist was utilized for direct
observation of safety practices,
encompassing general safety, environmental
safety, employee safety and patient safety.
Scores were assigned based on compliance
with safety criteria.
3.2.3 Dairy
• A dairy was used to record data obtained
during unstructured interviews,
documenting insights into departmental
functions and procedures.
3.3 Data Analysis
Data collected through the questionnaire and
observation were analysed, calculating interval points
which involves dividing the range between the
highest and lowest scores assigned to questionnaire
responses by the number of categories designated for
score interpretation to calculate average scores for
knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Gap analysis was
performed by comparing the percentage scores
between knowledge and practice, as well as between
attitude and practice.
4 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
The study findings provided insights into their high
level of knowledge and practice, along with a
uniformly positive attitude toward safety in Table 1
to 3. Gap analysis emphasized the importance of
bridging the gap between attitudes and practical
implementation and between knowledge and practice
for more effective radiation safety measures in Table
4 and 5.
The results presented in Table 5 show a 9.15%
gap between the percentage scores for attitude and
practice, implying the need for further alignment
between positive attitudes and practical
implementation.
Radiation safety emerges as a critical concern
spanning both patients and healthcare professionals
across diverse departments. Having a high level of
knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) about
radiation can reduce the harmful effects of radiation.
KAP has strong direct effects on technical protection
against health hazards associated with radiation
exposure. Dose limitation for occupationally exposed
individuals is necessary to reduce the level of risk and
ensures safety for radiographers. The study discusses
the radiation safety measure through scoring system
of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of study
participants which are presented in tables (1-5).
As seen in Table 1 that radiology technicians
exhibited a commendably high level of knowledge
regarding radiation safety, with an average score of
0.79. This finding resonates with previous research
(Roberts &Bull,2020) who found that physicians had
higher significant knowledge regarding radiation
safety which emphasizes the importance of
comprehensive training and education for healthcare
professionals in radiation-sensitive fields.
The findings from Table 2 notably showcase the
dedication of radiology technicians to radiation safety
practices. This outcome is consistent with earlier
studies that emphasize the importance of practical
skills in safeguarding both patients and staff.
Likewise, the research conducted by Harris et al.
(2019) unveiled the utilization of dosimeters
(instruments for measuring ionizing radiation
exposure) by physicians and technologists,
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showcasing their commitment to radiation safety
protocols. A significant portion of the staff
consistently practiced radiation safety programs,
emphasizing the fundamental significance of
rigorously adhering to safety protocols within
radiology departments.
The uniformly very positive attitude among all
technicians toward radiation safety, as evidenced by
an average score of 4.27 in (Table 3) resonates with
the studies emphasizing the influence of a positive
safety culture on the overall effectiveness of safety
measures. Another study (Barnawi et al.,2018) found
the majority of participants working in the radiology
department have high attitudes regarding radiation
safety and also found that they had high standards
regarding radiation safety. The level of attitude
regarding radiation safety among physicians, nurses,
staff, and technicians could be an initial step to reduce
its harmful side effects and establish a positive
correlation between attitude and the implementation
of safety guidelines.
Table 1: Total Average Score of Knowledge Regarding
Radiation Safety.
No. of
Res
p
ondents
No. of
Questions
Total
Score
Average Remarks
30 30 714 0.79 High level
of
knowledge
Table 1 reveals that radiology technicians
exhibited a commendably high level of knowledge
regarding radiation safety, with an average score of
0.79.
Table 2: Total Average Score of Practice in Radiation
Safety.
No. of
Res
p
ondents
No. of
Questions
Total
Score
Average Remarks
30 24 462/606 0.76 High level
of
p
ractice
As shown in Table 2, the radiology technicians
demonstrate a high level of practice in ensuring
radiation safety achieving an average score of 0.76.
Table 3: Total Average Score of Attitude towards Radiation
Safety.
No. of
Res
p
ondents
No. of
Statements
Total
Score
Average Remarks
30 12 1537 4.27 Very
positive
attitude
The findings from Table 3 reveal a uniformly very
positive attitude toward radiation safety among all
technicians by an average score of 4.27.
Table 4: Gap Analysis between Knowledge and Practice
Scores.
M
aximu
m
Score of
Knowled
g
e
Total
Acquired
Knowled
g
e Score
% Score
of
K
nowled
g
e
Maximu
m Score
of
Practice
Total
Acquire
d
Practice
Score
%
Score
of
Practic
e
Gap
(%)
900 714 79.33 606 462 76.23 3.1
Table 4 indicates a 3.1% gap between the
percentage scores for knowledge and practice,
suggesting some room for improvement in translating
knowledge into practice.
Table 5: Gap Analysis between Attitude and Practice
Scores.
Maximu
m Score
of
Attitude
Total
A
cquire
d
Attitude
Score
%
Score
of
A
ttitud
e
Maximu
m Score
of
Practice
Total
A
cquire
d
Practice
Score
%
Score
of
P
ractic
e
Gap
(%)
1800 1537 85.38 606 462 76.23 9.1
5
The gap analysis presented in Table 4 and Table
5 reveal distinct areas where improvements can be
made to enhance the alignment between knowledge,
attitude, and practice in radiation safety. This gap
suggests that while participants have demonstrated a
substantial level of knowledge acquisition, there is
still room for enhancement in translating this
knowledge into effective practical implementation.
By addressing this gap, the participants can enhance
the effectiveness of their radiation safety measures,
thereby minimizing potential risks and promoting a
safer environment for both technicians and the
patients. This echoes with the conclusions conducted
by (Tsapaki et al., 2018), emphasizing the importance
of bridging the gap between theoretical understanding
and its real-world application to ensure optimal safety
outcomes.
In summary, the participants who integrated
structured questionnaires, direct observation, and
interviews, comprehensively assessed the knowledge,
attitudes, and practices of radiology technicians
concerning radiation safety. The findings
substantiated a commendably high level of
knowledge and practice, along with a uniformly
positive attitude toward safety. The identified gaps
between attitudes, knowledge, and practice
emphasize the significance of targeted interventions
to ensure the effective translation of theoretical
understanding into practical safety measures.
Radiology Technician Radiology Safety Proficiency Evaluation
275

5 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the study's comprehensive analysis of
radiation safety among radiology technicians
revealed encouragingly high levels of knowledge and
practice, underscored by a uniformly positive
attitude. However, the identified gaps between
attitudes and practical implementation, as highlighted
in the gap analysis, emphasize the importance of
bridging this divide for more effective radiation
safety measures. The study calls for focused efforts to
translate positive attitudes into concrete practices,
thereby enhancing overall radiation safety protocols.
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