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Abstract
AIM AND OBJECTIVES:
To examine the current state of radiation safety education and its influence on nurses' compliance with safety procedures.

BACKGROUND:
Use of radiation in therapy and diagnosis has prolonged and improved millions of lives, but it presents potential hazards for healthcare professionals.

DESIGN:
A cross-sectional design.

METHODS:
Participants included 1,672 female nurses of childbearing age who had recently been exposed to radiation emitting generators or radiation. Quantitative data were taken from the Korea Nurses' Health Study, the Korean version of the Nurses' Health Study conducted in the USA. Confounding variables included sociodemographic factors, duration of employment in a department where work involved radiation, hospital's geographical location, bed size, and hospital safety climate. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation coefficients, and multivariable ordinal logistic regression.

RESULTS:
Half (50.3%) of nurses received no safety training, whereas the other half received some safety training as follows: only once (14.4%), irregularly (10.2%), and regularly (25.1%). Out of the 6 radioactive safety compliance questionnaires, 29.4%, 20.2%, 30.7%, and 19.7% complied to none, one, two, and more than three, respectively. After controlling for confounding variables, relative to that observed with no safety education, irregular education that occurred more than twice (OR=1.597, CI=1.177-2.164) and regular education (OR=2.223, CI=1.770-2.792) increased the likelihood that nurses would comply with safety procedures.

CONCLUSIONS:
Low levels of safety education and adherence raise critical concerns regarding nurses' well-being. As routine safety education increases safety adherence, healthcare managers and policymakers should emphasize regular safety education. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Author information

Kim O1,2, Kim MS3, Jang HJ4, Lee H5, Kang Y2, Pang Y1,2, Jung H6.
1
Korean Nurses Association, 314, Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, 04615, Republic of Korea.
2
College of Nursing, Ewha Womans University, 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.
3
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Institute of Public Health and Health Policy, 15 Aran 13-gil, Jeju-si, Jeju-do 63241, Republic of Korea.
4
Department of Nursing, Hallym University, 1 Hallymdaehak-gil, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 24252, Republic of Korea.
5
College of Nursing, Yonsei University, Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute 50, Yonsei-ro Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
6
College of Nursing, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon, 35365, Republic of Korea.