Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Radiologic diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using ionizing radiation carry
potential health risks. Hence, clients’ knowledge about radiation would play a key role in reducing
unnecessary imaging and its impacts. However, information on client’s knowledge in low income
countries specifically in the Ethiopian context has been was limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was
to assess knowledge about radiation related hazards and protective measures among patients waiting for
radiologic imaging.
METHODS: Descriptive cross sectional study design was employed on 388 patients waiting for
radiologic imaging in Jimma University Hospital from Dec.25/2014 to Jan. 10/2015. Eligible participants
were interviewed using pretested questionnaire. Data were entered and analyzed using IBM SPSS
version 21. A descriptive analysis was conducted to get summary values of clients’ radiation related
knowledge.
RESULTS: A total of 386 clients were included to the analysis.Two hundred and three (52.6%)
participants had ever heard radiation related health hazards. Among these, 74.9% mentioned infertility,
64.0% indicated cancer followed by 26.6% who mentioned cataract as radiation related health hazards. A
large number of clients (75.6%) had no idea about radiation protective measures, whereas 22% of them
mentioned not entering examination room unless ordered by health professionals and 10.6% indicated
covering sensitive body parts with lead (pb). The majority (85.8%) of the clients did not support
unjustified repeated radiation imaging for diagnostic or other purposes.
CONCLUSION: The overall knowledge of clients about radiation imaging seems inadequate. Thus,
comprehensive awareness raising programmes targeted at different settinsg and levels should be
designed and implemented.
