Awareness of interventional radiologists about radiation protection in medical exposure

Sources of ionizing radiation are an integral part of modern healthcare and are widely used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. One of the key aspects of the safe use of ionizing radiation in medicine is the competence of medical professionals in the field of radiation protection. The aim of this study is to investigate the level of awareness and understanding of radiation protection among interventional radiologists in the Russian Federation. The research was conducted through an online survey. The link to the questionnaire was shared in communities of interventional radiologists in social networks. A total of 78 interventional radiologists participated in the survey. The questionnaire consisted of 26 questions, 11 of which focused on assessing knowledge of radiation protection. Each question addressed a fundamental aspect essential for understanding and application in medical practice. None of the respondents answered all radiation protection questions correctly. The average score among all participants was 6.1 out of a maximum of 11. The level of knowledge did not significantly depend on years of professional experience (p>0,05). The most challenging questions concerned the biological effects of ionizing radiation. Most participants assessed their knowledge of radiation safety as satisfactory (46,1%) or good (33,3%). Self-assessment of knowledge levels also did not significantly depend on professional experience (p>0,05). As preferred sources of information on radiation safety, interventional radiologists identified online resources, scientific conferences, educational materials, and training courses. Currently, no regularly updated, unified information online resource in Russian is available. Developing such a resource represents the most cost-effective approach to ensuring and improving the awareness of interventional radiologists regarding radiation protection. Simultaneously, efforts should be directed toward enhancing the quality of training courses on radiation protection.