Purpose: To determine factors affecting the current status and awareness about the radiation exposure of nurses who administer intervention radiology (IVR).
Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to 1,016 nurses who routinely administer IVR.
Results: The number of effective responses was 560 (55.1%). Of the respondents, at least 90% said that they needed education for radiation exposure and radiation protection, more than 70% responded that they were concerned about occupational exposure, 90% said they adopted appropriate protection measures. Factors affecting self-assessment scores among nurses aged 30 to 39 years and 40 to 49 years were analyzed. In both groups, nurses with educational experience, who were employed by facilities that conducted frequent IVR examinations, or who had higher scores for self-estimated knowledge, had less anxiety regarding radiation exposure. Staff with Intervention Nursing Expert qualifications, education and experience with radiation, and occupational exposure to low levels of radiation, also had less anxiety (affectivity).
Consideration: It is difficult to say whether continuing education about basic knowledge and radiation exposure protection is substantial However, education and experience with radiation affect knowledge and anxiety, and nurses involved in IVR require systematically delivered basic knowledge about radiation.