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Stomatologija 2021; 23 (3): 80-5 115 KB

Knowledge, attitude and practice of dental house surgeons and undergraduate students towards radiation safety and protection: A questionnaire based survey

Kirthana Muthu A/P Shanmugam¹, Ananya Madiyal², Supriya Bhat², Siti Dzulaikha Amalina Binti Jelani¹

Summary

Objective. Ionizing radiation is hazardous to living tissues due to their effects on somatic cells and genetic material. Since dental radiography is used widely for diagnosis, treatment planning and patient education, it is important for dentists to understand the problems associated with the use of radiation and the methods of preventing them. The present study was designed to assess and compare the knowledge, attitude and practice of dental house surgeons and undergraduate students towards radiation safety and protection.

Materials and methods. A cross sectional questionnaire based survey was conducted among 153 dental house surgeons and undergraduate students attending a dental teaching hospital.

Results. On comparison of the house surgeons with undergraduate students, the present study found that the knowledge, attitude and practice of house surgeons were better than the undergraduate students regarding AERB guidelines, ALARA principles, position distance rule, personal monitoring devices, thickness of lead barrier and use of lead protection. Both the groups had similar high knowledge regarding the harmful effects of X-rays. However undergraduate students had better knowledge regarding radiation hazard symbol and made better use of personal monitoring devices. A greater number of house surgeons were found to have had formal training in radiation protection while undergraduate students were more willing to undergo further training.

Conclusion. Dental students must be educated regarding radiation safety and protection before they commense work as independent practitioners for the protection of their patients, the environment and themselves.

Key words: radiation, X-rays, occupational safety, radiation protection.

Received: 23 06 2018

Accepted for publishing: 24 09 2021

¹A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte (deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore, India

²Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte (deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore, India

Address correspondence to Ananya Madival, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte (deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore – 575018, India.

E-mail address: ananyamadiyal@gmail.com



	Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal

September, 2021, Vol. 23, No. 3 CONTENTS REVIEW The effect of botox for the correction of the gummy smile: A systematic review Augustė Razmaitė, Giedrė Trakinienė 63-68 SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES Immediate implant supported prosthodontic treatment of the edentulous jaw with additional implant stabilization Roman А. Rozov 69-74 REVIEW Could saliva play a role in controlling the Covid-19 pandemic? Anna Papadopoulou, Despina Tounta, Christina Tesseromatis 75-79 SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES Knowledge, attitude and practice of dental house surgeons and undergraduate students towards radiation safety and protection: A questionnaire based survey Kirthana Muthu A/P Shanmugam, Ananya Madival, Supriya Bhat, Siti Dzulaikha Amalina Binti Jelani 80-85 CASE REPORTS Is there an association with Wilson’s disease and multiple tongue dysplasia lesions and in situ carcinoma? A case-report based literature review Dimitris Tatsis, Aggeliki Baliaka, Konstantinos Antoniades 86-89 Canalicular adenoma of minor salivary gland. Report of a case and a brief review of the literature Karakostas Panagiotis, Matiakis Apostolos, Anagnostou Eleftherios, Poulopoulos Athanasios 90-92 © 2021 Stomatologija		Stomatologija 2021; 23 (3): 80-5 115 KB Knowledge, attitude and practice of dental house surgeons and undergraduate students towards radiation safety and protection: A questionnaire based survey Kirthana Muthu A/P Shanmugam¹, Ananya Madiyal², Supriya Bhat², Siti Dzulaikha Amalina Binti Jelani¹ Summary Objective. Ionizing radiation is hazardous to living tissues due to their effects on somatic cells and genetic material. Since dental radiography is used widely for diagnosis, treatment planning and patient education, it is important for dentists to understand the problems associated with the use of radiation and the methods of preventing them. The present study was designed to assess and compare the knowledge, attitude and practice of dental house surgeons and undergraduate students towards radiation safety and protection. Materials and methods. A cross sectional questionnaire based survey was conducted among 153 dental house surgeons and undergraduate students attending a dental teaching hospital. Results. On comparison of the house surgeons with undergraduate students, the present study found that the knowledge, attitude and practice of house surgeons were better than the undergraduate students regarding AERB guidelines, ALARA principles, position distance rule, personal monitoring devices, thickness of lead barrier and use of lead protection. Both the groups had similar high knowledge regarding the harmful effects of X-rays. However undergraduate students had better knowledge regarding radiation hazard symbol and made better use of personal monitoring devices. A greater number of house surgeons were found to have had formal training in radiation protection while undergraduate students were more willing to undergo further training. Conclusion. Dental students must be educated regarding radiation safety and protection before they commense work as independent practitioners for the protection of their patients, the environment and themselves. Key words: radiation, X-rays, occupational safety, radiation protection. Received: 23 06 2018 Accepted for publishing: 24 09 2021 ¹A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte (deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore, India ²Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte (deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore, India Address correspondence to Ananya Madival, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte (deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore – 575018, India. E-mail address: ananyamadiyal@gmail.com