ASSESSMENT OF THE LEVEL OF IONIZING RADIATION SAFETY AWARENESS AMONG NON-MEDICAL IMAGING STAFF OF THE RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL

Although essential for med although essential for medical imaging and therapy, ionizing radiation presents health concerns that call for stringent safety precautions. even with established protocols, hospital staff members who do not perform imaging may not be fully aware of radiation safety, which could result in on intentional exposure and health risks. In study, non-imaging staff members at the River state University teaching hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria, are asked to rate their awareness of the safety of ionizing radiation. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among two hundred and twenty-eight (228) non-medical imaging staff of RSUTH. The areas assessed include, their awareness of the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principle, safety precautions, and sources of ionizing radiation. The associations between awareness levels and other factors were investigated using both descriptive (frequency and percentages) and inferential (chi-square testing) analytic methods. The survey discovered that although most respondents were aware of the sources of ionizing radiation, there were noticeable gaps in there, awareness of certain radiation impacts and safety guidelines, especially the ALARA principle with only 30.3% of the sample being aware. Though just 10.1% of respondents had received official training on radiation safety, a sizable portion of respondent (95.6%) acknowledged the significance of radiation protection. The awareness levels of various staff groups were influenced by demographic parameters, including age, gender, and employment. The survey found that non-imagine personnel have a generally good awareness of ionizing radiation, but it also identifies serious awareness and training gaps, particularly with regard to the ALARA principle and particular safety precautions. The results point to the necessity of thorough and customized educational interventions to close these gaps. To strengthen radiation safety procedures and safeguard, employees and patients alike, stronger safety regulations, improved training initiatives, and ongoing professional growth are advised.