• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.205-211
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• 2017

Background: Radiation is used in a variety of areas, but it also poses potential risks. Although radiation is often used with great effectiveness in many applications, people perceive potential risks associated with radiation and feel anxious about the possibility of radiation exposure. Various methods of measuring radiation doses have been developed, but there is no way for the general public to measure their doses with ease. Currently, many people use smartphones, which provide information about the location of an individual phone through network connections. If a smartphone application could be developed for measuring radiation dosage, it would be a very effective way to measure individuals' radiation doses. Thus, we conducted a survey study to assess the social acceptance of such a technology by the general public and their intent to use that technology to measure radiation doses, as well as to investigate whether such an intention is correlated with anxiety and attitudes toward the use of radiation. Materials and Methods: A nationwide online survey was conducted among 355 Koreans who were 20 years old or older. Results and Discussion: Significant differences were found between the genders in attitudes, perceptions of radiation risk, and fears of exposure to radiation. However, a significant difference according to age was observed only in the intent to use a smartphone dose measurement application. Attitudes towards the use of radiation exerted a negative effect on radiation risk perception and exposure anxiety, whereas attitudes towards the use of radiation, risk perception, and anxiety about exposure were found to have a positive impact on the intent to use a smartphone application for dose measurements. Conclusion: A survey-based study was conducted to investigate how the general public perceives radiation and to examine the acceptability of a smartphone application as a personal dose monitoring device. If such an application is developed, it could be used not only to monitor an individual's dose, but also to contribute to radiation safety information infrastructure by mapping radiation in different areas, which could be utilized as a useful basis for radiation research.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.137-147
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the relationship between thoughts and psychological anxiety about nuclear power among Busan residents. Methods: Convenience sampling was used for this cross-sectional survey conducted from February 13 to 14, 2016. A total of 520 residents participated in the study and completed a self-administered questionnaire. Results: We found a significant association between negative thoughts and psychological anxiety about nuclear power. People older than 60 years (odds ratio (OR) 2.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.41-4.54), who feared the possibility of radiation accidents (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.17-2.62), considered nuclear power plants unsafe (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.10-3.40), and believed the Gori nuclear power plant in Busan must be shut down (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.22-2.79), had the highest anxiety about radiation exposure. Conclusions: The authors suggest the need for the formulation of a policy to provide people with precise information on nuclear power to increase their understanding and help eliminate unfounded negative thoughts. Furthermore, policy decisions about nuclear power must be based on social consensus.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.432-439
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to analyze the knowledge, attitudes, safety management behavior, and radiation anxiety of dental hygienists and to analyze affecting factors in order to improve the level of radiation safety management and reduce anxiety. The study period consisted of 280 dental hygienists working in Jeollabuk-do from September 10 to October 31, 2017 using the SPSS 12.0 program, frequency, descriptive statistics, and multiple regression analysis. The average knowledge level of radiation quality control was 8.07, and the correct answer rate was 75.3%. The attitude level was 96.1%, and the radiation safety management behavior was 4.11 for the photographer and 4.58 for the 'always wear a TLD (personal dosimeter) during radiography'. Patient radiation safety management behavior was 3.86, and the highest was '4.69' to confirm pregnancy of the woman before radiography. Radiation-covered lining was 3.86, and was the highest at 4.13 for 'I am concerned about fetal health when I am pregnant'. Factors affecting radiation exposure anxiety were lower radiation safety management behaviors, lower age, lower radiographic experience, higher educational background, higher monthly income, and higher job title (p<0.05). Based on the above results, dental hygienists had strong knowledge, attitudes, and safety management practices for radiation quality control. However, since anxiety related to radiation exposure was high, it is possible to improve radiation safety management level and reduce radiation exposure anxiety.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.255-260
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• 2018

Most patients and parents and guardians display frequent anxiety due to radiation exposure during outpatient, ward, and pediatric general radiographic examinations. This is a behavior that perceives only the harmfulness of radiation. For the recognition of medical radiation, we conduct surveys on outpatients, inpatients, and pediatric parents and guardians to identify their awareness, and then use the radiation dose promotional materials After providing accurate information on the use of radiation, the outpatient, inpatient, and pediatric parents and guardians were asked to explain the change in awareness. The questionnaire items were classified into five categories: repetitive radiation awareness for diagnosis, awareness of exposure dose, availability of exposure information, awareness of radiation risk, and awareness of health problems caused by radiation. There was a statistically significant difference in the items of recognition result of medical radiation, although there was a slight difference in the individual items in the pre and post-recognition results of providing information about the radiologists of the protector and the outpatient(p<0.05). Therefore, through the installation of these promotional materials, we will improve our awareness of medical radiation safety during general radiography surveillance in the Department of Radiology to provide better quality medical information and medical services, thereby contributing to strengthening the competitiveness of the hospital.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.373-377
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to suggest a necessity and development of radiation counsellor qualifications system for the public to solve the anxiety and the curiosity about radiation exposure. We analyzed the definition and role of radiation counsellor and define radiation counsellor qualifications system. Qualification is given to those who have completed the professional training course organized by Korea Energy Information Culture Agency (KEIA). Since 2014, KEIA has been conducting radiation counsellor training, Examination and certification. This system continues to promote efforts to disseminate and develop the right knowledge about radiation risk and information of radiation risk to the public. Also, it is thought that radiation counsellors could be able to fulfill the roles needed in society through legislation for the mandatory placement of radiation counsellors.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.161-165
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• 2016

Background: Radiation accidents having occurred in recent containing the accident in Fukushima nuclear power plants of Japan were resulted to the increase in some public concern, anxiety and confusion for radiation or nuclear safety. The public anxiety for radiation is not being decreased though the announcements done in radiation research institutes in Korea. Therefore, this study aims at providing an effective system for radiation publicity to the public members by the clipping analysis for the radiation articles reported in the media. And, the relation between those radiation issues and the radiation perception to the public members is analyzed. Materials and Methods: The radiation articles reported by them in 2013 and 2014 have been collected, and they are then classified with the article characteristic, field and tendency. Classified articles have been reviewed by dividing as two year. The 210 articles have been compared for their tendencies, characteristics and fields by year reported, and their characteristic comparison by reported year are then reviewed. Results and Discussion: Though the frequency that the radiological accidents have occurred in worldwide is far low compared to the accidental frequencies occurred in the general industrial fields, the radiation perception is being still deteriorated because of its special problem, which is defined as exposure, contamination or radioactivity, about radiation. The basic principles for radiation communication were suggested for preventing some unnecessary misunderstanding due to the variation of understanding for radiation issues. Conclusion: It is necessary to perform a variety of strategies for the publicity in improving the radiation perception, to build a relationship with the press or the media and then to consistently interact with them. Radiation communication must be performed by radiation experts or complete charge department, and must be consistently performed and be taken predictable patterns.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.373-381
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• 2022

The Fukushima nuclear power plant water spill caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 raised fears about radiation exposure through consumption of radioactively contaminated seafood. The Korean government banned importing agricultural and fishery products from eight prefectures near Fukushima, but the related news were continuously reported partly due to the WTO dispute with Japan, which seems to have aggravated consumers' anxiety about seafood. In this study, data on daily purchases of products for three years (2018-2020) were collected and the effect of Japanese radiation-related news on domestic consumers' purchases of seafood was estimated using a polynomial lag distributed model. As a result of the analysis, it was found that radiation-related news had a statistically significant negative effect on the purchase of seafood on the 5th and 6th days after exposure to consumers through the media. It captures the carryover effect in which consumers' perceptions are reflected in the purchase of seafood after exposure to related news.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2013

There are many concerns about radiation exposure in Korea after Fukushima Nuclear Plant Accident on 2011 in Japan. As some isotope materials are detected in Korea, people get worried about the radioactive material. In addition, the mass media create an air of anxiety that jump on the people's fear instead of scientific approach. Therefore, for curbing this flow, health, medical institute from the world provide a variety of information about medical radiation safety and hold the campaign which can give people the image that medical radiation is safe. At this, the Korean Food and Drug Administration(KFDA) suggested that make the alliance of medical radiation safety and culture on August, 2011. Seven societies and institutions related medical radiation started to research and advertise the culture of medical radiation safety in Korea. In this report, mainly introduce the activities of the Korean Alliance for Radiation Safety and Culture in Medicine(KARSM) for spreading culture of medical radiation safety from 2011 to 2012.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2011

This study is to identify perceptions and response degrees of anxiety for each factor, targeting patients for CT test and analyze the relations between factors. It is to provide scientific fundamental data to reduce anxiety by improving awareness of patients about CT test by analyzing relations between variables. The subjects of this study were surveyed in self-writing type, targeting 263 patients for CT test in the department of radiology at three University hospitals from July to September, 2010. This survey was executed once by a structured self-administered survey type. The targeting patients for CT test of anxiety will investigate for affect. Anxiety by each CT test variables depending on CT test-related features showed independent variable is Expense Responsibility, Economic burden, Sufficient explain, Explain agent, Endoscope, Biopsy, Pre treatment, Previous experience, CT side effect experience, Side effect of contrast medium and dependent variable is physical, Hospital staff, Hospital environment, Socioeconomic These used statistics program SPSS (ver. 13.0). Summarizing the above results of this study, awareness of anxiety and response to it in each variable under CT test appeared significant differences in economic burdens, state anxiety, pre-treatment anxiety, exposure anxiety to radiation, and anxiety of side effect. Therefore, pre-treatment before test and pre-training programs on chemical poison of contrast medium and side effect seem to be able to release patients' anxiety level for CT test. Ways to meditate these anxiety variables and reduce degree of anxiety are needed to be researched more and updated. In addition, impact of patients' economic burdens on CT test anxiety is required to be recognized and solved in society level.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 2021

In order to reduce the irresistible radiation exposure of patients who perform periodic examinations using a CT among various scan parameters a method to reduce patient dose was investigated through changes in the tube voltage close to X-ray penetrating power. As a result of the experiment 100 kVp was applied instead of 120 kVp which is commonly used in clinical practice and CTDI decreased by about 41% during scan. In addition the degree of change in image quality was measured as 1046.1±3.7 HU for CT value and 71.4±7.9 for Pixel value and statistical analysis showed no significant difference (0.05