• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.132-146
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• 2015

To develop tailored elementary, middle, and high school textbooks suitable for understanding the nuclear energy and radiation, quantitative and qualitative research was carried out in parallel, which included nine steps to ensure the validity of content and structure. The elementary, middle, and high school students wanted to acquire information used in their daily lives, including the definition of nuclear energy and radiation, principles and status of nuclear power generation, and information about irradiated food, medical radiation, and radiation in life. In the evaluation of the effects of textbook contents according to the educational requirements of each school level, high suitability frequencies (>80%) were shown for the human character, education goals, curriculum goals, evaluation method, and education time. At some levels, the high suitability frequencies (>70%) were shown for the education grade, education type, and textbook type.

• 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 radiological science and technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2024

Medical institutions wishing to install and operate diagnostic radiation generators must complete appointment training within one year of appointment based on the 「Medical Act」 and the 「Rules on Safety Management of Diagnostic Radiation Generator Devices」 which will come into effect on January 1, 2024. Additionally, You must receive supplementary education every three years from the date you received it. The strengthening of safety management for diagnostic radiation generators used in medical institutions means that although the radiation exposure that may occur when using diagnostic radiation generators is low, the risk of carcinogenesis may be higher than previously evaluated. In addition, safety management of diagnostic radiation generators can be said to be an essential requirement because it has been reported that the incidence of leukemia and other diseases is increasing in diagnostic radiation tests. However, the safety management training targets and programs for radiation exposure management operated by other organizations other than diagnostic radiation generators are significantly different. In addition, since the public institutions that are responsible for radiation safety management are divided, there is a risk of duplicative, excessive, and under-administrative application to medical institutions and educational institutions that install and operate diagnostic radiation generators. Therefore, we would like to determine their consistency by comparing domestic and foreign related cases and the provisions of the 「Medical Act」 and the 「Nuclear Safety Act」.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.108-116
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• 2020

Background: This foundational study on educational interventions aimed to analyze the changes in awareness, knowledge, and attitudes of young learners after they received objective information on safety management. Materials and Methods: Educational sessions on nuclear power and radiation safety were delivered to 4,934 Korean elementary, middle, and high school students in two separate sessions conducted in 2016 and 2017. The effects of these interventions were subsequently analyzed. Results and Discussion: Learner attitudes toward safety were found to be the predominant variables affecting the post-intervention risk (safety) awareness of nuclear power generation. Conclusion: The safety awareness of future generations will significantly influence policy decisions on nuclear power generation. Hence, the design of educational interventions on this subject must match variables suited to learner levels.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2020

This study investigated the effectiveness of radiation safety rules in animal hospital and the awareness and behavior of veterinary radiation workers. With the questionnaires, the data was collected from randomly selected veterinarians in animal hospitals and animal medical imaging centers. Collected data were about radiation device, shielding device, regulations, safety management, education, knowledge, behavior and awareness. Frequency, correlation and multiple regression analysis were performed. The medical devices related with radiation in animal hospital were X-ray (59%), CT (15%), fluoroscopy (12%), mobile X-ray (12%) and others (2%). The number of people using radiation shielding device is high. The answers were low on knowing radiation related regulation and receiving radiation protection education. The group with higher knowledge and awareness shows positive correlation with safety behavior. The increase of use of the radiation related medical devices in veterinary hospital causes the increase of radiation exposure risk. This study suggests that radiation safety management system and policies need to be developed to protect radiation workers and give them correct information and consciousness.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.168-175
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• 2021

To investigate the perceptions and attitudes of dental hygienists toward radiation safety management in Korea. A total of 800 dental hygienists were randomly selected for an anonymous survey, and 203 of them participated. The questionnaire items included the following: sex, career period, type of installed radiographic equipment, recognition of the diagnostic reference level (DRL), participation in radiation safety education, and attitudes toward radiation protection for both patients and dental hygienists. The participants were divided into two groups according to their years of experience (< 10 years versus ≥ 10 years). The difference between the groups was investigated according to frequency distribution. Fisher's exact test or Pearson's chi-square (𝛘²) test was used as appropriate. A regression analysis was performed to investigate the impact of wearing a thyroid collar for personnel protection during patient radiation exposure. The types of installed radiographic equipment included panoramic radiography (96.1%), cephalometric radiography (76.9%), intraoral radiography (72.9%), and cone-beam computed tomography (69.5%). Significant differences were observed in the learning pathway for the DRL (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.05), satisfaction with radiation safety education (Pearson's 𝛘² test = 5.3975, Pr = 0.02), and use of personnel radiation monitoring systems (Pearson's 𝛘² test = 18.1233, Pr = 0.000) between the groups. Significant differences were also observed in personnel protection using a thyroid collar and patient protection during panoramic radiography (odds ratio = 14.2). Dental hygienists with more than 10 years of experience were more satisfied with radiation safety education and more interested in radiation monitoring. Considering career experience, customized, continuous, and effective radiation safety management education should be provided.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.825-830
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• 2012

Radiation and its various industrial applications have been growing at approximately 10 percent per year for the past decade in Korea. As a result, the importance of the Education and Training (E&T) in radiation protection is of upmost importance. This paper is intended to investigate the present status of the E&T on radiation protection and safety in Korea and to draw up the improvements of the E&T courses required for building the national radiation safety infrastructure. For these purposes, the E&T data from the six major domestic organizations providing radiation protection training courses were investigated and analyzed. Each of the organizations is offering several kinds of E&T courses based on their own specific functions. These organizations have administrative facilities equipped with the latest technology for E&T in radiation protection. The E&T courses mainly cover the training courses for radiation workers, radiological emergency staff, license applicants, license holders, and regulatory staff. In 2010, a total of 58 E&T courses were carried out across six organizations. The conclusions make a number of observations highlighting challenges such as: establishing a formal feedback mechanism, introducing more practical training sessions, developing training courses tailored to the job categories and target audiences, and designing education and training courses in radiation protection that comply with current obligations as well as future requirements.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2015

by providing objective information regarding medical radiation for elementary, middle, and high school students in Korea, who are expected to have a high ripple effect in education, and by analyzing behavioral changes in the selection of medical radiation, this study aimed to deduce the basis for educational intervention. The tools used in the study were a questionnaire, including questions about perception, knowledge, attitude, and behavior toward medical radiation; video and Power-point materials for the lesson; simulated radiation diagnosis selection form; and radiation treatment selection form to find out about behavior. A post-test demonstrated that the objective knowledge about medical radiation of all the students turned out to be significantly higher (p<0.000) after the lesson compared to before the lesson. However, there were no statistically significant behavioral changes. Rather, for high school students, the behavior of selecting medical radiography and treatment was significantly lower (p<0.000) after the lesson. For the more impressionable children in the lower grades, the lesson must not only provide an opportunity to understand and pay attention to diverse viewpoints, but also encourage them to make ethical decisions based on value. Since it can be predicted that attitude or behavioral changes through education or publicity can be expected from adults older than high school students, issues regarding dangers like radiation exposure must be treated as an issue of value judgment predicated on multifaceted considerations.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.335-341
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• 2012

This study conducted a survey targeting at dental hygienists working in medical institutions located in Daegu, Pusan, Ulsan Metropolitan City and Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk Province from July 18th to August 26th 2011, in order to study factors which affect radiation safety management behaviors and improve levels of those behaviors. The results of this study are as follows. 1. There were significant differences in radiation safety management knowledge of dental hygienists, according to service institutions (p<.001), the current state of defense facilities (p<.006) and the necessity for safety management education (p<.012). 2. There were significant differences in radiation safety management attitudes, according to age (p<.014), service institutions (p<.003), work experience (p<.009), educational level (p<.002), the current state of defense facilities (p<.015), the necessity for safety management education (p<.005) and the intention to take part in the education (p<.036). 3. There were significant differences in radiation safety management behaviors, depending on experience in safety management education (p<.068), measurement of exposed dose (p<.010), the state of defense facilities (p<.001). 4. There were statistically positive correlations between radiation safety management knowledge and attitude, and between radiation safety management attitude and behavior (p<.05). 5. The regular measurement of exposed dose (p<.046) and the present state of defense facilities (p<.001) were found to be factors to affect radiation safety management behaviors. In conclusion, it is considered that building perfect defense facilities of radiology rooms and measuring the exposed does of dental hygienists on a regular basis to alert them to the danger of radiation is considerably important to improve radiation safety management behaviors.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to prioritize policy measures to improve radiation safety management in medical institutions using the analytic hierarchy process. Materials and Methods: It adopted three policy options-engineering, education, and enforcement-to categorize safety management measures, the so-called Harvey's 3Es. Then, the radiation safety management measures obtained from the current system and other studies were organized into action plan categories. Using the derived model, this study surveyed 33 stakeholders of radiation safety management in medical institutions and analyzed the importance of each measure. Results and Discussion: As a result, these stakeholders generally identified enforcement as the most important factor for improving the safety management system. The study also found that radiation safety officers and medical physicists perceived different measures as important, indicating clear differences in opinions among stakeholders, especially in improving quality assurance in radiation therapy. Hence, the process of coordination and consensus is likely to be critical in improving the radiation safety management system. Conclusion: Stakeholders in the medical field consider enforcement as the most critical factor in improving their safety management systems. Specifically, the most crucial among the six specific action plans was the "reinforcement of the organization and workforce for safety management," with a relative importance of 25.7%.