Referral Physicians’ Knowledge of Radiation Dose: A Cross-sectional Study

Mohammad Rawashdeh; Charbel  Saade; Ali  Ibnian; Ziad  Bataineh; Dana S. Al Mousa; Patrick Brennan; Feda  Al-Tamimi; Maryam Al-Husari; Rula  AbuTaimai; Mark Mcentee

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2020.4727

Authors

Mohammad Rawashdeh Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
Charbel Saade University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
Ali Ibnian King Abdullah University Hospital, Irbid, Jordan
Ziad Bataineh Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
Dana S. Al Mousa Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
Patrick Brennan Medical Image Optimisation and Perception Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Feda Al-Tamimi Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
Maryam Al-Husari Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University
Rula AbuTaimai Jordan Breast Cancer Program, Amman, Jordan
Mark Mcentee University College Cork, Discipline of Diagnostic Radiography, Brookfield Health Sciences, Cork, Ireland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2020.4727

Keywords:

Radiation damage, Radiation dose, Radiation protection, Radiation risk

Abstract

AIM: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the knowledge of referring physicians of general practitioners, residents, and medical specialists in Jordan and the Middle East on radiation dose and its impact on vulnerable patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Institutional Review Board approved this study before data collection. A cross-sectional study employed questionnaire that was distributed to respondents (n = 293) of general practitioners, residents, specialists, and therapists. The questionnaire consisted of 29 questions. Nine questions concerned with demographics and the remaining 20 questions were divided into five sections: Radiation dose, ionizing radiation, pediatric radiation, pregnant women radiation, and radiation risks. The mean score was computed out of 20. Chi-squared test of independence was utilized to analyze each question. To compare the responses between the demographic variables groups, Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests were used.

RESULTS: Out of the 293 respondents, 128 (43.7%) were aware of radiation. The average score of the questionnaire was 9.5 out of 20 (47.5%). Within each section, the level of knowledge varied. Physicians had the highest level of knowledge in radiation risk (85.7%) followed by ionizing radiation (62.1%). The questionnaire revealed lower levels of knowledge in the areas of pediatric radiation, pregnant women radiation, and radiation dose. The percentages of respondents, (with fair to good level of knowledge), were 47.1%, 34.5%, and 24.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study were consistent with previous studies that demonstrated a poor level of general knowledge in referring physicians regarding radiation dose, ionizing radiation, pediatric radiation, pregnant women radiation, and radiation risks.

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