Validity and Reliability of a Radiation Safety Culture Survey Instrument for Radiologic Technologists.

Purpose To design and evaluate a survey instrument to quantitatively examine radiologic technologists' perception of radiation safety culture. Methods A survey instrument with determinants related to radiation actions and dimensions of radiation safety (RADS) was designed through a multisequential process involving content and scale validity and internal reliability. A 6-member panel evaluated content validity, and 425 radiologic technologists participated in the study to determine the reliability of the survey instrument items and determinant scales. Results The 35-items in the survey instrument were found to be valid (content validity index = 0.995) and reliable (α = .94). In addition, 10 determinant scales also were found to be reliable (α = .70-.84). The scales included teamwork in imaging, teamwork across imaging stakeholders, questioning attitude, feedback loops, organizational learning, leadership actions, nonpunitive response, error reporting, radiation policy, and overall perception of radiation safety. Discussion The survey instrument meets recommendations to have a quantitative tool to assess radiation safety culture perception and represents the first instrument of its kind for radiologic technologists. The survey instrument is intended to assess perception of radiation safety culture, but the tool should be paired with clinically relevant outcome data to assess the alignment between radiologic technologist perception and objective radiation safety-related performance indicators. Conclusion The RADS survey instrument is a reliable and valid tool to examine radiologic technologists' perceptions of radiation safety culture in medical imaging. Survey use and subsequent process improvement and leadership intervention for areas of deficiency can strengthen radiation safety culture in medical imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]