The use of modern medical imaging technology plays a vital role in the diagnosis and management of diseases. The ability of these methods to provide necessary information in the shortest possible time is widely increasing in various surgical procedures, especially orthopedic and spinal surgeries. However, facing the risks of using ionizing radiation via various imaging methods and adhering to protective protocols by personnel and students, in addition to their level of knowledge, can depend on multiple factors, such as their education level, current training policies for individuals, and the tools available for their training and practice [10]. Considering the limited studies on the level of knowledge, attitudes, and performance of students in these fields toward ionizing radiation, we resorted to research conducted on students in other medical science disciplines to investigate and compare our results with those of other studies in this area.
On the basis of our findings, considering the score range between zero and ten, the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and performance of operating room nursing and anesthesia students were average. In line with this result, in research conducted by Cheki et al., the level of knowledge of radiology students about radiation protection principles was also average [17], which may be due to
They are more familiar given that they receive more education due to the nature of their profession. However, a study conducted in Norway on final-year medical students indicated a low level of knowledge among students regarding the risks associated with ionizing radiation [18]. These results can be justified, considering that radiology students have more information about the principles of protection against ionizing radiation than do students in other disciplines. Additionally, in research conducted by Faggioni et al., the students' level of knowledge regarding the principles of radiation protection in several fields of medical sciences was fragile [19]. In line with these findings, Salih et al. reported that final-year nursing students' level of awareness and knowledge
was poor [20]. In addition, a study in Iran revealed that the level of knowledge among operating room staff regarding principles of protection against radiation was low, and their performance was average [21].
The abovementioned issues indicate a fundamental concern at different levels of education in various medical science disciplines regarding the ineffectiveness of teaching radiation protection principles. This lack of knowledge can lead to misconceptions and behaviors that may affect the health services provided. Additionally, the lack of knowledge among students can potentially lead to unnecessary prescription of ionizing radiation imaging tests in the future [18]. This can also result in inadequate patient education for various procedures, resulting in diverse challenges. Furthermore, these issues can impact legal matters such as obtaining informed consent from patients for surgical procedures. This approach can expose patients to various risks and challenges because patients, without receiving accurate information from healthcare professionals, may be unable to make informed decisions regarding alternative treatments based on the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
Our study revealed that operating room nursing students have significantly greater attitudes than anesthesia students do. In this context, in the study by Alavi et al., the field of study of individuals was also considered one of the predictors of individuals' knowledge level regarding radiation protection principles [22]. This difference can be explained by the educational curriculum and the direction of training in working with C-Arm machines by operating room nursing students, who have taken courses such as medical physics and familiarized themselves with the basics of radiology, which are not included in the radiography curriculum, may have higher scores as a result. Therefore, on the basis of our study findings and other research, it is recommended that educational units or specific courses, such as RP courses, be considered for students in various fields, especially those present in the operating room environment. Guidelines for using these types of radiation to utilize these technologies confidently for patient treatment should be established. Previous studies have shown that clinical training courses in the field of radiation protection principles significantly impact students' knowledge and performance regarding these principles [23].
In our study, a significant difference was found in the level of knowledge and attitudes between male and female students, with women reporting higher levels. However, no significant difference was found in performance regarding safety principles based on gender. In line with the results of our study, Aspasia Goula et al. reported a significant relationship between individuals' gender and their attitudes toward radiation protection principles. They observed that women had more misconceptions than male employees did. In this study, fear and stress among women regarding pregnancy in the future and the continuous risks of fluoroscopy and its effects on the fetus were considered reasons for the misconceptions and attitudes of female personnel [24]. In contrast, in the research of Kahkhaei and Sarani, among operating room staff, men had a higher level of awareness and lower performance than women did [21]. In this regard,
Asadian and Zarghani concluded no significant relationship exists between gender, knowledge, attitudes, and performance and radiation protection principles [25]. In their study of radiology students, Felayani et al. reported no significant relationship between students' level of knowledge and awareness and their gender [26]. These findings were consistent with the results of the studies by Cheki et al. [17] and Shabani et al. [10]. The reason for this discrepancy could be attributed to differences in the study population, the academic disciplines of the students, and the countries where the research was conducted, which affect how people are educated.
The findings of our study demonstrated a significant and positive relationship between GPA and the level of knowledge and attitudes toward radiation protection principles among operating room nursing students. Additionally, this relationship was also present among anesthesia students regarding their GPA and attitudes. However, in this study, the Pearson correlation test results did not reveal a significant relationship between the age of operating room nursing or anesthesia students and their attitudes toward or knowledge of radiation protection principles. In line with the results of our study, in the study by Jabari, no correlation was observed between the knowledge and performance of operating room personnel and their age and educational level [27]. Furthermore, Amjadi et al. reported no correlation between individuals' demographic variables and their knowledge and awareness of radiation protection principles [28]. In line with this result, in the study by Sundaran Kada, no relationship was found between the age of medical students and their knowledge and knowledge [18], suggesting that age cannot be considered a predictive factor for students' level of knowledge, attitudes, or performance.
On the basis of the findings of the present study, organizing training courses and incorporating coursework familiarizing students with the principles of working with ionizing radiation into the operating room nursing and anesthesia curriculum could be considered essential. Additionally, studies have shown that increasing students' knowledge can significantly reduce their stress and anxiety while working with ionizing radiation [15]. Therefore, specific training courses that include the necessary knowledge of the biological effects of radiation, the justification of exposure, the optimization of implementation methods, and the advantages and disadvantages of each technique are recommended. These courses can play a significant role in reducing students' stress and mitigating the risks associated with exposure to ionizing radiation.
Limitations and recommendations
Some of the limitations and shortcomings of this study include its cross-sectional nature. Another limitation of this study was the use of self-report measures, and incorrect answers could influence the responses. Therefore, the participants were assured of the confidentiality of the questionnaires. Additionally, the limited research population compared with the previous semester's operating room nursing and anesthesia students at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences was another limitation of this study that could impact the generalizability of its results. Owing to the level of knowledge and awareness of operating room nursing and anesthesia students, various training courses on the principles of radiation protection should be held at universities, and their effectiveness should be evaluated in future studies. Additionally, owing to the low number of students in these fields in each faculty, further studies should be conducted in this area, and their results should be compared with those of the present study.