• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.91-95
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• 2010

The study aimed to measure the levels of radiation protection for radiologists in medical institutions in three environmental categories (physical, administrative and social) and to establish a data base which can be used to increase awareness of environmental radiation protection in medical institutions within Korea. The study surveyed 10% of radiologists working in radiology departments in medical institutions which are supervised by the National Dose Registry overseen by the Korean Food and Drug Administration(KFDA). This study found that the level of environmental radiation protection was higher in the capital area and in larger hospitals. On the other hand, the study shows environmental radiation protection was lower in the Youngnam area and in clinics. Results from the questionnaires indicate the level of environmental radiation protection was higher when radiologists were given an individual dosimeter but lowest when the radiation protection apron quality test was conducted. Environmental radiation protection is an important factor for radiologists to conduct activities in a safe and protected environment. However, this study shows there are differences in the level of environmental radiation protection in medical institutions and location within Korea. In particular, the level of environmental radiation protection was lower in clinics, appropriate intervention strategies befitting these conditions are needed based on medical institution classification and location in order to improve the level of environmental protection.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2013

Purpose: Radiographs is an integral part of patient management in dentistry, despite their detrimental effects. As the literature pertaining to radiation protection among Indian dental practitioners is sparse, exploring such protection is needed. Materials and Methods: All private dental practitioners in Mangalore, India were included in the study. A structured, pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was employed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices, previous training, perceptions towards the need to spread awareness, and willingness to gain and implement knowledge about radiation hazards and protection. Information regarding each respondent's age, gender, education, and type and duration of practice was collected. Results: Overall, 87 out of 120 practitioners participated in the study. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were $9.54{\pm}2.54$, $59.39{\pm}7.01$, and $5.80{\pm}3.19$, respectively. Overall, 25.3% of the respondents had undergone training in radiation protection, 98.9% perceived a need to spread awareness, and 94.3% were willing to improve their knowledge. Previous training showed a significant correlation with age, sex, and duration of practice; attitude was significantly correlated with education and type of practice; and knowledge scores showed a significant correlation with type of practice. Conclusion: Although the knowledge and practices of respondents were poor, they had a positive attitude and were willing to improve their knowledge. Age, sex, and duration of practice were associated with previous training; education and type of practice with attitude scores; and type of practice with knowledge scores. The findings of this study suggest a policy is needed to ensure the adherence of dental practitioners to radiation protection guidelines.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.80-82
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• 2021

Dr. Haruyuki Ogino, a member of the Japan Health Physics Society (JHPS), was awarded the 2021 Bo Lindell Medal by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). To commemorate this, the "Joint JHPS-KARP-ARPS program for young radiation protection (RP) scientists to discuss the future of RP" was organized via a web meeting system. First, Dr. Ogino gave a lecture, and then young researchers selected from each academic society made presentations on the future of RP. After the presentations by the three researchers, a free talk was held-young researcher groups of each country being active is a great opportunity to collaborate and exchange information. It was emphasized that the low awareness of knowledge related to radiation has been common to all of the participating countries. Thus, it is necessary to utilize communication via web technology, as done for this program, effectively. One of the biggest advantages for Asia and Oceania is that we do not have a significant time difference. The round-table discussion was concluded by expressing the hope of active exchange and development of young researchers in the future.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.219-225
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• 2012

This study makes differentiated regulations which can maximize the efficiency and convenience of radiation safety regulations by deriving evidence required to establish reasonable safety regulatory structure based on the determination of the levels of actual radiation safety regulations for radiation safety managers to perform radiation safety. We surveyed approximately 10% of radiation safety managers from domestic radiation-using organizations which was based on the Nuclear Safety Act and NUREG Vol. 1~21 of RS-G-1.9 (2005), NRC of IAEA, etc. The radiation safety managers showed the highest level of awareness on the requirements for exposure management ($3.32{\pm}0.910$), and the lowest level on the requirements for record keeping and storage of documents ($2.84{\pm}0.826$). Industrial organizations showed higher levels of awareness than medical organizations whose regulations should be more stringent on requirements of the status and management of radioactive sources, facilities, measurements, pollution control, measuring equipment, monitoring, education and training, and exposure management. This suggests that the actual regulations need to be re-evaluated because it is attributed to the regulations which are statistically significant difference of the levels of radiation safety regulations between industrial organizations and medical organizations. The process of developing regulatory requirements for each characteristic of domestic organizations needs to be done in future studies, as well as safety regulations to maximize convenience should be achieved if radiation safety regulations are conducted in consideration with the characteristics of each organization.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2012

After Fukushima Nuclear Accident on Mar11, 2011, to grasp the thought of university students in Korea on radiation and medical radiation and seek for the right mass communication on the radiation safety of the people and the proper teaching method on radiation, 790 questionnaires from the universities which had a four-year department of radiological science in 5 provinces(Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang-do) all over the country were collected and analyzed. The questionnaire was composed of 36 items, and it was analyzed that one of the important causes that made them feel that radiation was dangerous was 'even if they were exposed to the small quantity of radiation, they could have trouble later.' ($3.28{\pm}1.05$). In the item of the control of radiation, there were the respondents who answered that the government should take action rather than an individual($3.87{\pm}0.89$). In the item of 'Fukushima Nuclear Accident made me think that 'We should not keep nuclear power generation', the result was $2.79{\pm}0.95$. In the item of 'My thought on the medical radiation has negatively changed since Fukushima Nuclear Accident', the students who hadn't taken the course related with radiation showed a negative thought on the medical radiation, such as, there was $2.64{\pm}1.02$ as a whole, $2.31{\pm}1.00$ in department of radiological science, $2.94{\pm}0.95$ in department of dental hygiene, and $3.13{\pm}0.82$ in other departments. And also, those who thought that the education of radiation was necessary were 82.28%, and T.V or Internet was thought as the most effective teaching method.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2024

Background: This study aims to analyze radiation safety management and regulatory perceptions, focusing on companies that must report radiation sources. The intent is to reduce the gap between regulation measures and addressing real concerns while improving practical safety management measures and regulations for all stakeholders. Materials and Methods: Radiation safety officers at a total of 244 reporting companies using radiation generators (79.8%) and sealed radioisotopes (15.1%) were surveyed using a questionnaire. Results and Discussion: The perception that regulation is stronger than the actual risk of the radiation source used was 3.47 points (out of 5 points), indicating a score above average. The most important factors and considerations were education and training (48%) as a human factor, safety devices of the radiation source (71.3%) as a hazardous material factor, the use of radiation (50.8%) as an organizational environment, and the radiation effect of nearby facilities (67.2%) as a physical environment. Radiation safety management educational experience (F= 5.030, p< 0.01), the group with high subjective knowledge (t= 6.017, p< 0.001), and the group with high objective knowledge (t= 1.989, p< 0.05) was found to be better at radiation safety management. Conclusion: It is necessary to standardize the educational experience regarding radiation safety management because each staff member has individual differences in educational experience. It is necessary to provide more information on how to solve radiation accidents via educational content. Applying radiation safety regulations based on the factors that significantly affect radiation safety management shown in this survey will help improve safety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2017

In this study, in order to analyze the general awareness of the nuclear power according to the controversy of thyroid cancer around nuclear plant, we investigated risks, preference and economics regarding type of power, and awareness of pre-post nucl ear power targeting the Busan Metropolitan residents. As a result, there has been a change in people's awareness of nuclear power as a result of the controversy thyroid cancer around nuclear plant. Especially, there was the greatest increase in the risk factors compared to before the event(p<0.05). Negative awareness of nuclear risk was shown to be expressed differently accor ding to the difference between groups. It is thought that this is due to the different prior experience of each individuals or obtained information through the interaction with others rather than on scientific and objective grounds. In order to establish a nuclear power policy considering the level of the people in the future, it seems that the efforts to understand the attitudes and opinions of people about nuclear power and above all, a scientific trust in nuclear power should be guaranteed.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.721-733
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to help reduce the anxiety about dental radiation exposures of people and to provide a way to instill proper awareness of dental radiation. Methods: To fulfill the research aim, this study conducted a survey to 330 subjects who are 20 years old or over living in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do during the month of December 2016. The collected data were analyzed using frequency analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis among others. Results: As a result of examining the correlation between the anxiety of dental radiography and the correlations between the variables showed that the knowledge of radiation knowledge and the need for radiography (r=0.186, p<0.01), thinking about shooting (r=0.137, p<0.05), and the effectiveness of wearing protective equipment (r=0.120, p<0.01), showing statistically significant differences. As a result of examining the factors influencing anxiety of dental radiography among adults, high awareness of the need for dental radiography (p<0.01), the more the idea of dental anxiety in dental radiography is radiography showed higher (p<0.01). Conclusions: It seems proper that adequate dental radiography requires adequate explanation about it to patients, wearing of protective equipment, and appropriate dental radiation safety education.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.461-467
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of radiation protection in operating room and intensive care unit nurses. The Participants for this study consisted of 240 nurses working in operating rooms and intensive care units of 7 general hospitals located in Busan, South Korea. The data were collected from Feb. 15 to Feb. 29, 2016. The study results were as follows. First, 72.9% of the nurses had never been educated for radiation safety. Second, the mean score of knowledge for radiation protection was 9.21. The knowledge score of radiation safety educated nurses is higher than uneducated of nurses(t=-5.67, p<.001). Third, The mean score of attitude towards radiation protection was 41.80. The attitude score of radiation safety educated nurses is lower than uneducated of nurses(t=0.02, p<.030). Fourth, the mean score of behavior for radiation protection was 32.57. The behavior score of radiation safety educated nurses is higher than uneducated of nurses(t=0.35, p=.001). Consequently, it was found that nurses had lack of the radiation safety education. Overall knowledge and behavior towards radiation protection was low. Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness of radiation protection and to educate, manage, and improve processes to increasing compliance with protective measures against radiation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.244-252
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• 2018

C-arm fluoroscopy is useful equipment in interventional pain management because it helps to guide correct needle targeting for the accurate injection and drug delivery. However, due to increased use of C-arm fluoroscopy in various pain procedures, the risk of radiation exposure is a significant concern for pain physicians. The harmful biological effects of ionizing radiation on the human body are well known. It is therefore necessary to strive to reduce radiation exposure. Lead aprons with thyroid shields are the most fundamental radiation protective devices for interventional procedures, and are very effective. However, the operator's radiation safety cannot be guaranteed because pain physicians seem to lack sufficient interest, knowledge, and awareness about radiation safety. Also, inappropriate care and use of radiation protective devices may result in a higher risk of radiation exposure. The purpose of this article was to review the literature on radiation safety with a focus on lead aprons and thyroid shields and present recommendations related to those devices during C-arm fluoroscopic-guided interventions by pain physicians.