Competency of Occupational Physicians in Clinical Care of Persons Receiving Radiation Products from Operations: A Case Study of the Synchrotron Light Production Research Institute in Thailand

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the healthcare problem of people who exposed to radiation at the Synchrotron Light Research Institute in Thailand and according to improve occupational medicine physicians’ competence in the clinical care of people affected by radiation using the Delphi Technique. The samples were two subjects who had been exposed to radiation from the production line, one institutional safety administrator, and 15 occupational medicine physicians. The data were obtained from a semi-structured interview and the results were analyzed using the median and interquartile range. The study results showed that the healthcare problem according to the working process was carelessness. In the treatment process, the problem occurred due to delayed wound healing, insufficient medical knowledge, and the use of a multidisciplinary team in the caring process. In addition, the psychosocial and economic problems caused by the fear of disfigurement, lack of confidence in the treatment process, and some patient concerns the obstacles in body movement. 15 expert’s opinions demonstrated the highlight in 8 components and 45 sub-items. The experts had opinions on a very high to the highest level (median = 5.00 and the interquartile range = 2). Overall, expert opinions had consistent. Therefore, this information might be considered as acceptable.