Title : Awareness among Dental practitioners towards radiation hazards and protection in Saudi Arabia
Abstract:
Background: Dental X-ray is a fundamental part of dentistry. It contributes to the establishment of a definitive diagnosis and the proposed treatment plan. Several modalities are used, ranging from conventional to cone-beam computed tomography with varieties of doses absorbed by the living tissue.
Methods: Self-structured questionnaire was established and distributed among 119 dental practitioners working in private and government hospitals through Google® forms. Final-year graduate students of King Khalid University in Abha, Aseer region, Saudi Arabia, were involved as well.
Results: A total of 119 participants were included in this prospective survey with a mean ± S.D. age of 33.30 ± 3.6. There is a significant difference (P<0.05) among the participants in their responses to the most sensitive organ to X-ray, whether the handheld portable X-ray unit was safer than the traditional one, and their knowledge about handheld portable X-ray units. Additionally, there is a significant difference in the responses to whether they used a monitoring device, the distance kept while taking Xrays, and whether they have the patients wear a thyroid collar.
Conclusions: The overall extent of awareness of the participants of the dental X-ray hazards, protection measures being followed, and the modes of updating knowledge were found to be satisfactory. The study results will help practitioners to improve their knowledge and to consider protective measures strictly.
Audience takes away:
- This presentation will fulfill dentist understanding of dental x-ray hazards, improve their knowledge of use in a more careful way of radiograph, moreover allow their research mind to open toward such papers
- This presentation will allow the audience to expand their opportunity in learning about public awareness in a practical perspective, this research allow other faculty to use to expand their research and teaching it is provide a practical solution to a problem that could simplify or make a designer’s job more efficient
- The awareness of the participants included in the survey study was satisfactory to some extent. Postgraduate students and staff reported better awareness of radiation hazards and protective measures than the other participants. Continuous education in terms of knowledge improvement and protection implications can increase the level of awareness in the future