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Bahadori P, Molina-Recalde AP, Saleh Alruwaili A, Alanazy A, Tilahun WT, Ayub G, Haq ZU, Bashir MB. Assessment of medical students' knowledge regarding radiation associated risk and its protection: finding from a cross-sectional study. Ir J Med Sci 2024; 193:1515-1519. [PMID: 38041750 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-023-03583-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The current study assessed the knowledge of the medical students regarding the nature of radiation, associated risks, and protective measures. METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted among international students enrolled in different medical colleges/universities in Xian, PR China. A self-developed and self-reported questionnaire was used for the current study. The descriptive statistics was carried out to summarize the finding of the study. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were conducted to assess the association of the demographics with knowledge level. RESULTS A total of 796 students responded among 980. Most of the participants fell in the age range of 20-25 years (42.6%), being male (67.1%) and having bachelor's education (56.7%). Participants with previous experience was 58.7%. The age group of 20-25 years (p < 0.001), being male (p < 0.001), having bachelor education (p < 0.001), and previous experience (p = 0.009) was significantly associated with moderate to good knowledge. The overall knowledge about the nature of radiation (96%) and associated risk (82%) was good, but regarding protection, 59% of the participants showed good knowledge. CONCLUSION Most of the participants showed satisfactory result. However, the knowledge regarding protection measures was poor in almost half of the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pardis Bahadori
- Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Abdullah Saleh Alruwaili
- Emergency Medical Services Program, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Ahmed Alanazy
- Emergency Medical Services Program, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Gulsanga Ayub
- Department of Radiology, Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Zia Ul Haq
- Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Musa Bin Bashir
- Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Shaanxi, China.
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Rühm W, Cho K, Larsson CM, Wojcik A, Clement C, Applegate K, Bochud F, Bouffler S, Cool D, Hirth G, Kai M, Laurier D, Liu S, Romanov S, Schneider T. Vancouver call for action to strengthen expertise in radiological protection worldwide. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2023; 62:175-180. [PMID: 37097458 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-023-01024-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Ionising radiation has been used for over a century for peaceful purposes, revolutionising health care and promoting well-being through its application in industry, science, and medicine. For almost as long, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has promoted understanding of health and environmental risks of ionising radiation and developed a protection system that enables the safe use of ionising radiation in justified and beneficial practices, providing protection from all sources of radiation. However, we are concerned that a shortage of investment in training, education, research, and infrastructure seen in many sectors and countries may compromise society's ability to properly manage radiation risks, leading to unjustified exposure to or unwarranted fear of radiation, impacting the physical, mental, and social well-being of our peoples. This could unduly limit the potential for research and development in new radiation technologies (healthcare, energy, and the environment) for beneficial purposes. ICRP therefore calls for action to strengthen expertise in radiological protection worldwide through: (1) National governments and funding agencies strengthening resources for radiological protection research allocated by governments and international organisations, (2) National research laboratories and other institutions launching and sustaining long-term research programmes, (3) Universities developing undergraduate and graduate university programmes and making students aware of job opportunities in radiation-related fields, (4) Using plain language when interacting with the public and decision makers about radiological protection, and (5) Fostering general awareness of proper uses of radiation and radiological protection through education and training of information multipliers. The draft call was discussed with international organisations in formal relations with ICRP in October 2022 at the European Radiation Protection Week in Estoril, Portugal, and the final call announced at the 6th International Symposium on the System of Radiological Protection of ICRP in November 2022 in Vancouver, Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Rühm
- Helmholtz Centre Munich, German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - K Cho
- Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, Yuseong, 114, Daejeon, 34142, Korea
| | - C-M Larsson
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia
| | - A Wojcik
- Centre for Radiation Protection Research, Stockholm University, Svante Arrheniusväg 20C, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute of Biology, Jan Kochanoski University, 25-406, Kielce, Poland
| | - C Clement
- International Commission on Radiological Protection, 280 Slater Street, Ottawa, ON, K1P 5S9, Canada
| | - K Applegate
- University of Kentucky College Medicine, 800 Rose Street MN 150, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
| | - F Bochud
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Rue du Grand-Pré 1, 1007, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - S Bouffler
- Radiation Protection Sciences Division, UK Health Security Agency, Didcot, OX11 0RQ, Oxon, UK
| | - D Cool
- International Commission on Radiological Protection, 280 Slater Street, Ottawa, ON, K1P 5S9, Canada
| | - G Hirth
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia
| | - M Kai
- Nippon Bunri University, 1727 Ichigi, Ōita, 870-0397, Japan
| | - D Laurier
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, BP 17-92262 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, 31 Avenue de la Division Leclerc , 92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, Île-de-France, France
| | - S Liu
- China Institute of Atomic Energy, 275 (1), Beijing, 102413, People's Republic of China
| | - S Romanov
- Southern Urals Biophysics Institute, Ozyorsk, Chelyabinsk Region, Russian Federation
| | - T Schneider
- Nuclear Protection Evaluation Centre, 28, rue de la Redoute, 92260, Fontenay aux Roses, France
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Ainsbury EA. The 2019 Bo Lindell Laureate Lecture: On the use of interdisciplinary, stakeholder-driven, radiation protection research in support of medical uses of ionising radiation. Ann ICRP 2020; 49:32-44. [PMID: 32907341 DOI: 10.1177/0146645320946629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Medical exposures form the largest manmade contributor to total ionising radiation exposure of the UK population. In recent years, new technologies have been developed to improve treatment and prognosis of individuals treated with radiation for diseases such as cancer. However, there is evidence of public, patient, and medical professional concern that radiation protection regulations and practices, as well as understanding of potential long-term adverse health effects of radiation exposure (in the context of other health risks), have not always 'kept pace' with technological developments in this field. This is a truly complex, multi-disciplinary problem for the modern world.The 'Radiation Theme' of the Public Health England and Newcastle University Health Protection Research Unit on 'Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards' is addressing this need, with a key focus on a genuinely interdisciplinary approach bringing together world-leading epidemiologists, radiation biologists, clinicians, statisticians, and artists. In addition, the project has a strong grounding in public, patient, and medical professional involvement in research. Similarly, the EU-CONCERT-funded LDLensRad project seeks to understand the mechanisms of action of low-dose ionising radiation in the lens of the eye, and the potential contribution to the development of cataract - in contemporary research, such projects will only be considered successful when they make use of expertise from a variety of fields and when they are able to demonstrate that the outputs are not only of benefit to society, but that society understands and welcomes the benefits. Finally, successful engagement, training, and retention of early career scientists within this field is crucial for sustainability of the research. Herein, the contribution of embedded interdisciplinary working, stakeholder involvement, and training of early career scientists to recent advancements in the field of medical (and wider) radiation protection research is discussed and considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Ainsbury
- Public Health England Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Chilton, Didcot, Oxford OX11 0RQ, UK; e-mail:
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Bucher M, Duchrow L, Endesfelder D, Roessler U, Gomolka M. Comparison of inexperienced operators and experts in γH2A.X and 53BP1 foci assay for high-throughput biodosimetry approaches in a mass casualty incident. Int J Radiat Biol 2020; 96:1263-1273. [PMID: 32673132 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1793024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In case of population exposure by ionizing radiation, a fast and reliable dose assessment of exposed and non-exposed individuals is crucial important. In initial triage, physicians have to take fast decisions whom to treat with adequate medical care. In addition, worries about significant exposure can be taken away from hundreds to thousands non- or low exposed individuals. Studies have shown that the γH2A.X radiation-induced foci assay is a promising test for fast triage decisions. However, in a large-scale scenario most biodosimetry laboratories will quickly reach their capacity limit. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of inexperienced experimenters to speed up the foci assay and manual foci scoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS The participants of two training courses performed the radiation-induced foci assay (γH2A.X) under the guidance of experts and scored foci (γH2A.X and 53BP1) on sham-irradiated and irradiated blood samples (0.05-1.5 Gy). The outcome of laboratory experiments and manual foci scoring by 26 operators with basic experience in laboratory work was statistically analyzed in comparison to the results from experts. RESULTS Inexperienced operators prepared slides with significant dose-effects (0, 0.1 and 1.0 Gy) for semi-automatic microscopic analyses. Manual foci scoring by inexperienced scorer resulted in a dose-effect curve for γH2A.X, 53BP1 and co-localized foci. In addition, inexperienced scorers were able to distinguish low irradiation doses from unirradiated cells. While 53BP1 foci scoring was in accordance to the expert counting, differences between beginners and expert increased for γH2A.X or co-localized foci. CONCLUSIONS In case of a large-scale radiation event, inexperienced staff is useful to support laboratories in slide preparation for semi-automatic foci counting as well as γH2A.X and 53BP1 manual foci scoring for triage-mode biodosimetry. Slides can be clearly classified in the non-, low- or high-exposed category.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Bucher
- Department of Effects and Risks of Ionising and Non-Ionising Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Lukas Duchrow
- Department of Effects and Risks of Ionising and Non-Ionising Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - David Endesfelder
- Department of Effects and Risks of Ionising and Non-Ionising Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ute Roessler
- Department of Effects and Risks of Ionising and Non-Ionising Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Maria Gomolka
- Department of Effects and Risks of Ionising and Non-Ionising Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Neuherberg, Germany
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Cho K, Imaoka T, Klokov D, Paunesku T, Salomaa S, Birschwilks M, Bouffler S, Brooks AL, Hei TK, Iwasaki T, Ono T, Sakai K, Wojcik A, Woloschak GE, Yamada Y, Hamada N. Funding for radiation research: past, present and future. Int J Radiat Biol 2019; 95:816-840. [PMID: 30601684 PMCID: PMC7340138 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2018.1558303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
For more than a century, ionizing radiation has been indispensable mainly in medicine and industry. Radiation research is a multidisciplinary field that investigates radiation effects. Radiation research was very active in the mid- to late 20th century, but has then faced challenges, during which time funding has fluctuated widely. Here we review historical changes in funding situations in the field of radiation research, particularly in Canada, European Union countries, Japan, South Korea, and the US. We also provide a brief overview of the current situations in education and training in this field. A better understanding of the biological consequences of radiation exposure is becoming more important with increasing public concerns on radiation risks and other radiation literacy. Continued funding for radiation research is needed, and education and training in this field are also important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunwoo Cho
- Natural Radiation Safety Department, Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Tatsuhiko Imaoka
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Chiba, Japan
| | - Dmitry Klokov
- Radiobiology and Health Branch, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Ontario, Canada
- Ottawa, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tatjana Paunesku
- Department of Radiation Oncology Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sisko Salomaa
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mandy Birschwilks
- Unit PB3 “National and International Cooperation in Radiation Protection”, Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Simon Bouffler
- Radiation Effects Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England (PHE), Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Antone L. Brooks
- Environmental Science Washington State University, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Tom K. Hei
- Center for Radiological Research, Department of Radiation Oncology College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Toshiyasu Iwasaki
- Radiation Safety Research Center, Nuclear Technology Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Ono
- Department of Radiobiology, Institute for Environmental Sciences (IES), Aomori, Japan
| | - Kazuo Sakai
- Faculty of Nursing, Tokyo Healthcare University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Andrzej Wojcik
- Centre for Radiation Protection Research, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gayle E. Woloschak
- Department of Radiation Oncology Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Radiation Safety Research Center, Nuclear Technology Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Tokyo, Japan
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