Radiation protection in dental radiology: Compliance, continuing education and equipment audit in imaging clinics
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Continuing education and the availability of protective equipment are two key factors that significantly influence compliance with radiation protection measures in imaging. Their absence could lead to practices that expose patients, staff, and the public to unnecessary risks. This study assessed compliance with respect to the continuing education of dental professionals and the availability of equipment in selected dental imaging clinics.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study. Questionnaires were shared to 55 dental professionals working in eight dental imaging clinics, to assess their level of compliance, specifically regarding continuing education and equipment availability (self-audit), and physical audit of the protective equipment in these clinics by the authors.
Results: About 25.5% of the respondents demonstrated a good level of compliance and equipment availability in their centres, while 50.9% received further training. The multi-level aggregate analysis showed that two clinics had high equipment score, good compliance score and compliance level. Spearman’s rank order correlation between compliance and equipment availability was statistically significant (p=0.001), while Cohen’s Kappa agreement between self and physical audit ranged from 38%-100% (K: 0.091-1.00).
Conclusion: This study showed that though continuing training is essential for compliance, equipment availability significantly influenced compliance with radiation protection measures.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Personal views expressed by the contributors in their articles are not necessarily those of the Journal of Associated Medical Sciences, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University.
References
Crane GD, Abbott PV. Radiation shielding in dentistry: an update. Aust Dent J. 2016; 61(3): 277-81. doi.10.1111/adj.12389
Han MA, Kim JH. Diagnostic X-ray exposure and thyroid cancer risk: systematic review and meta-analysis. Thyroid. 2018; 28(2): 220-8. doi.org/10.1089/thy.2017.0159.
Hwang SY, Choi ES, Kim YS, et al. Health effects from exposure to dental diagnostic X-ray. Environ Health Toxicol. 2018; 33(4): e2018017. doi.org/10.5620/eht.e2018017.
Memon A, Rogers I, Paudyal P, et al. Dental X-rays and the risk of thyroid cancer and meningioma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of current epidemiological evidence. Thyroid. 2019; 29(11): 1572-93. doi.org/10.1089/thy.2019.0105.
Samejo I, Kumar B, Musharraf H, Ahmed J, Memon L, Bhatti R. Assessment of knowledge and perspective toward dental radiography among dental practitioners of Sindh Province of Pakistan. J Evolution Med Dent Sci. 2021; 10(29): 2186-92. doi.10.14260/jemds/2021/447.
Elmorabit N, Obtel M, Azougagh M, Ennibi O Radiation protection knowledge and practices among Moroccan dentists: A cross-section study. Radiat med & Prot. 2024; 5(2): 131-8. doi.10.1016/j.radmp.2024.03.001.
National Council for Radiation Protection & Measurements Radiation protection in dentistry 2003; Report No. 145 Bethesda, Md.
International Atomic Energy Agency Radiation. Protection in Dental Radiology. 2022; Safety Report Series No. 108 Vienna. www.iaea.org/publications.
Benavides E, Krecioch JR, Connolly RT, Allareddy T, et al. Optimizing radiation safety in dentistry. J Amer Dent Ass. 2024; 155(4): 280-93. doi.10.1016/j.adaj.2023.12.002
Lawani U, Edetanlen E, Ogbebor I. A study on Awareness, knowledge and practice of exposure protection protocols by dentists in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital. J Global Oral Health 2023; 6(2): 101-6. doi.10.25259/JGOH_17_2023
Sarman I, Che Hassan DH. Factors affecting radiographers’ compliance with radiation protection on all areas of hospital settings worldwide-A meta-analysis. Int J Res Sc & Tech. 2016; 3(4): 433-38.
Torresan TT, Rodrigues IC, Poletto MC, et al. Radioprotection in dentistry: knowledge and practices. Res Sov Dev. 2021; 10(14): e583101422429. doi.org/10.33448/rsd- v10i14.22429.
Hussein SM, Abdelsalam N, Hashem N, Ibrahim BA. Knowledge, attitude and practice of radiation safety among dentists in Ismailia City, Egypt. J High Inst Pub Health. 2024; 54(1): 23-31. doi.10.21608/jhiph.2024.373484.
Enabuelele J, Igbinedion B. An assessment of dental students’ knowledge of radiation protection and practice. J Edu and Ethics in Dentistry. 2013; 3(2): 54-9. doi.10.4103/0974-7761.136044.
Awosan KJ., Ibrahim MTO, Saidu SA, Ma’aji SM, et al. Knowledge of radiation hazards, radiation protection practices and clinical profile of health workers in a teaching hospital in Northern Nigeria. J Clin & Diag Res. 2016; 10(8): LC07-LC12. doi.10.7860/JCDR/2016/20398.8394.
Praveen BN, Shubhasini AR, Bhanushree R, Sumsum PS, Sushma CN. Radiation in dental practice: Awareness, protection and recommendations. J Contem Dent Prac. 2013; 14(1):143-8. doi.10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1289
Pauwels R. Cone beam CT for dental and maxillofacial imaging: dose matters. Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2015; 165(1-4): 156-61. doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncv057.
Agrawal B, Dosi T, Hazari A, Maheshwari C, Rajput R, Yadav N. Evaluation of radiation awareness amongst general dental practitioners of Western Rajasthan in India. J Int Oral Health. 2015; 2(12): 51-5. https://www.ispcd.org/userfiles/rishabh/V7I12/V7I12A11.pdf.
Alanazi AH, Alamoudi HI, Alqahtani SIS, Alshahrami FA, et al. Attitude and awareness of general dental practitioners towards radiation hazards and safety. J Pop Ther & Clin Pharm (JPTC) 2022; 29(4): 998-1002. doi.https://doi.org/10.53555/jptcp.v29i04.5639.
Sudarshan R, RajVikram N, Rajakumar P, Ganesh R. Radiation safety practice in dentistry. Afr J Biomed Res. 2024; 27(3): 619-24. doi.https://doi.org/10.53555/AJBR.v27i3S.2072.
