Abstract
Abstract : Introduction Radiation technology at present is an undeniable challenge and attraction to all who realize the quality of images this technology can produce. It is, however, a fact that radiation may cause harm to cells due to its ionisation power, which may cause biological changes. Literature has, in instances, identified that the community is bewildered by possible radiation hazards because they do not know that medical radiation administered is kept as low as reasonably achievable in such a way that all undesired biological changes are minimized. Research has shown that clinicians who carry a great responsibility in helping patients with their queries and anxieties about the risks of medical radiation possess limited knowledge about radiation risks and radiation protection. The lack of knowledge of medical radiation in terms of the benefits of medical radiation and sensitivity to possible risk may cause a barrier for appropriate clinical decisions. Aims and Objects This research aimed at establishing the knowledge, awareness and attitude of community members in Tanzania towards medical radiation. Clinicians, patients and household members were recruited for data collection. Patients are sometimes seen refusing to undergo radiation examination due to inadequate or possibly incorrect radiation information in hospital settings hence it is important to ascertain level of patirnts’, household mmbers’s and clinicians’ knowledge and awareness about medical radiation, and to assess attitude of patients and household members towards undergoing medical radiation examinations. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional design using a descriptive approach was used where a structured questionnaire was developed by the researcher using previous studies obtained through a literature review and in consultation with a statistician and supervisors. Pretest was done using identical variables as the main research to check for any difficulties that participant may encounter. Chi square and ANOVA tests were vi also done for determination of the significance and variance among the group memberships. Results Irrespective of group membership, it was found that the level of knowledge and awareness about medical radiation is low among the community members in Tanzania where 54% of patients and household members respectively were found to have low level of medical radiation knowledge while 60% of patients and 54% of household members were found with awareness below accepatable level. Patients and household members revealed that the majority had never been informed about radiation before attending hospitals for radiation based examinations. Furthermore, patients and household members showed a high attitude towards medical radiation where 70% of household members and 71% of patients were found positive towards undergoing medical radiation examinations despite the fact that their knowledge and awareness of medical radiation were found to be low. On the other hand, about 46.9% of Clinicians were found to have knowledge and awareness below accepatable level despite that radiology is a part subject in their medical school curriculum, 53.1% were above the acceptable level. In the same vein, 81.6% of clinicians were found to have acceptable awareness about medical radiation. Conclusion The community’s level of knowledge and awareness about medical radiation especially for clinicians is worrying. Despite that patient expressed acceptable level of positive attitude, it is important that clinicians who spend most of time in patient reviw and counselling are knowledgeable enough. The Medical Radiology and Imaging Professionals Council, Medical Council of Tanganyika, Tanzania Association of Radiographers, Tanzania Radiology Society, Medical Association of Tanzania and Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children as well as hospital management teams are to develop and implement policies that will educate the community on the use of medical radiation. Review of the curricula at Medical Universities in Tanzania to include sufficient information on radiation is recommended.
M.Tech. (Radiography)