Article

Evaluation of radiation protection knowledge and practices among Moroccan operating room nurses

¹ Materials and Subatomic Physics Laboratory, Faculty of sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco
² Radiotherapy Department, National Institute of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco

^* Corresponding author: ilham.harbaj@uit.ac.ma

Received: 26 July 2024
Accepted: 14 October 2024

Abstract

This descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated radiation protection knowledge and practices among 206 Moroccan operating room nurses through a tailored 42-item self-administered questionnaire. The study population exhibited a predominance of male participants (81.1%) and a significant proportion of young professionals (42.2% aged 20–29). Notably, 91.7% of participants reported no prior formal radiation protection training. Data analysis revealed a mean global knowledge score of 4.98 ± 1.02 out of 10, with only 1.9% of participants achieving a high level of knowledge. Specifically, the mean scores for ionizing radiation (IR) and radiation protection (RP) knowledge reached 5.17 ± 1.05 and 4.79 ± 1.18, respectively, with 1.5% of participants demonstrating high-level understanding in both domains. Statistical analysis revealed significant positive correlations between ionizing radiation (IR) and radiation protection (RP) knowledge scores (r² = 0.446, p < 0.001), as well as between global knowledge and practice scores (r² = 0.481, p < 0.001). This investigation highlights a significant gap between theoretical understanding and practical application, emphasizing the need for preliminary training programs before operating room assignments and ongoing education initiatives. Such training should prioritize hands-on experience while addressing resource limitations and the influence of existing operational procedures to improve radiological safety in Moroccan operating rooms.