Exploring National Nursing Readiness for a Radiological or Nuclear Incident: A Cross-Sectional Study

Awareness and preparedness level of medical workers for radiation and nuclear emergency response

Radiological science and nuclear technology have made great strides in the twenty-first century, with wide-ranging applications in various fields, including energy, medicine, and industry. However, those developments have been accompanied by the inherent risks of exposure to nuclear radiation, which is a source of concern owing to its potentially adverse effects on human health and safety and which is of particular relevance to medical personnel who may be exposed to certain cancers associated with low-dose radiation in their working environment. While medical radiation workers have seen a decrease in their occupational exposure since the 1950s thanks to improved measures for radiation protection, a concerning lack of understanding and awareness persists among medical professionals regarding these potential hazards and the required safety precautions. This issue is further compounded by insufficient capabilities in emergency response. This highlights the urgent need to strengthen radiation safety education and training to ensure the well-being of medical staff who play a critical role in radiological and nuclear emergencies. This review examines the health hazards of nuclear radiation to healthcare workers and the awareness and willingness and education of healthcare workers on radiation protection, calling for improved training programs and emergency response skills to mitigate the risks of radiation exposure in the occupational environment, providing a catalyst for future enhancement of radiation safety protocols and fostering of a culture of safety in the medical community.

Factors Affecting the Intervention of Health-Care Professionals in Radiological Events: A Systematic Review

This research aims to explore the factors affecting the intervention of health-care professionals regarding a radiological event and to determine what actions they cause. In line with the keywords determined, a search was conducted on Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed until March 2022. Eighteen peer-reviewed articles that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. This systematic review was conducted using the PICOS and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses)guidelines. Of the 18 studies included in the study, 8 were cross-sectional studies, 7 were descriptive studies, 2 were interventional studies, and 1 was a systematic review. As a result of the qualitative analysis, 7 factors affecting the intervention of health-care professionals in a radiological event were identified as follows: rarity of the event; inadequacy of health-care professionals against the radiological event; sensory responses; dilemma and ethical concern; communication, workload; and other factors. The most important factor affecting the intervention of health-care professionals in a radiological event is inadequate education about a radiological event, which influences the formation of other factors. These and other factors cause actions such as delayed treatment, death, and disruption of health services. Further studies are needed on the factors affecting the intervention of health-care professionals.