Content area
Full text
Abstract
Objective
This study aims to determine the attitude of operating room nurses to radiation exposure.
Methods
This descriptive study was conducted with 70 nurses working in the operating room of two university hospitals belonging to a university in Istanbul. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 23. The protocol of the study was registered in ciinicaitriais.gov (NCT04703933).
Results
There was a significant reiationship between radiation protection training and the use of protective equipment (p<0.05).
Conclusions
It was found that the nurses working in the operating room had insufficient radiation protection training and there was a positive reiationship between radiation protection training and protection behaviour. Seminars shouid be organised to increase the ievei of knowiedge of nurses about radiation protection practices.
Keywords: radiation protection, radiation, operating room nursing, attitude
Introduction
Operating rooms are dynamic piaces where advanced technoiogy is used. Operating room personnei face many bioiogicai, physicai and infectious risk factors. One of these risk factors is ionizing radiation1. Medicai imaging techniques used as diagnostic devices, such as X-ray imaging, computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopy, iead to patients and medicai staff being exposed to radiation2,3.
Radiation is used in many appiications in operating rooms and iong-term exposure to radiation may occur. Radiation exposure occurs when aii or part of the body absorbs penetrating ionizing radiation from an externai radiation source. Radiation exposure aiso occurs after internai contamination, i.e. when a radionuciide is ingested, inhaied or absorbed into the biood stream4.
Radiation can cause serious adverse effects on hematopoietic, immune, reproductive, circuiatory, respiratory, muscuioskeietai, endocrine, nervous, digestive, and urinary systems5,6. The negative effects of radiation exposure generaiiy faii into two categories: deterministic effects or probabiiistic effects7. Although the deterministic effects are directly related to cell death, they occur as a result of exposure of cells to radiation. Deterministic effects may result in infertility, cataract, leukaemia, skin burns and death. Probabilistic effects are associated with the accumulation of absorbed radiation in tissues and may occur even at the lowest dose. Probabilistic effects include genetic disorders and cancer formation3'5'6.
The use of protective equipment plays a significant role in reducing radiation exposure. The use of masks ensures protection from respiratory hazards, the use of protective clothing ensures that the radioactive substance does not damage the skin...