Background: Radiation protection practices range from strict adherence to safety practices to complacency to unsafe procedures. Variations in compliance with safety practices can result in unnecessary radiation exposure to technologists and patients.
Objective: The objectives of this study were to advance the education and practice of the radiologic sciences by determining the degree of compliance with radiation safety practices as correlated to professional education, continuing education, years of employment in the radiologic sciences and work site.
Method: A 32-item questionnaire was mailed to a national random sample of 2000 certified radiologic technologists. A return rate of 23.9% yielded 454 questionnaires suitable for analysis.
Results: Mean scores for knowledge of and compliance with safety practices were 82% and 72%, respectively. Performance on individual items ranged from 95% compliance to 34% compliance. Two independent variables (ie, years of employment in the radiologic sciences and work site) were significantly related (P < .05) to adherence to safety practices.
Conclusion: Results indicated the need for educational and organizational interventions to increase compliance with safety practices.