Emergency department nurses are at the forefront of response to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents, yet factors shaping their preparedness intentions remain poorly understood. This cross-sectional study applied the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to assess behavioral intentions (BIs) for CBRN preparedness among 195 emergency department nurses in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected via a validated 21-item questionnaire measuring attitude toward the behavior (ATB), subjective norms (SNs), and perceived behavioral control (PBC). Spearman correlations and linear regression were used for analysis. Most participants (70.77%) were female and 81.54% lacked prior CBRN training, yet 68.46% demonstrated high BIs. All TPB constructs were positively correlated with BIs; however, only SNs significantly predicted BIs (β = 0.81, p < 0.001). Key influential factors included hospital management priorities, nursing organization endorsements, family support, self-confidence in emergency response and PPE use, and perceived local CBRN incident likelihood. Among demographics, only age significantly predicted BIs (p = 0.031), with younger nurses showing stronger intentions. These findings highlight that social and organizational influences predominantly drive CBRN preparedness intentions, emphasizing the need for targeted training and institutional support strategies.

Cette étude transversale a pour objectif général d’établir les premiers niveaux de référence diagnostique (NRD) nationaux du Togo, et a inclus les radiographies conventionnelles les plus fréquemment réalisées chez des patients âgés de plus de 18 ans de toutes les régions sanitaires du pays. Les NRD de la radiographie du crâne incidence de Blondeau (5,79 mGy), du rachis cervical (6,86 mGy), du thorax (0,42 mGy), du rachis lombaire (17,86 mGy), de l’abdomen sans préparation (5,26 mGy), du bassin (4,21 mGy) et de l’hystérosalpingographie (40,68 mGy) étaient relativement élevés comparativement aux données de la littérature.

This study critically evaluates the outcomes of the first Asynchronous Virtual Course organized by the Latin American Association of Medical Physics (ALFIM), titled “Reference Levels for Diagnosis in Nuclear Medicine”, designed for professionals in the field, comprised both theoretical and practical components. The teaching outcomes were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively, digital tracking of participant engagement in the pre-recorded theoretical activities on YouTube, as well as the results of the theoretical (Google questionnaire) and practical (exercise and report) formative assessments. Additionally, a quality survey was also conducted to gather participants’ opinions on various aspects of the course. The course had 315 participants from 21 countries. 99 completed the theoretical evaluation with 100% achieving satisfactory results. 43 participants finished the planned practical activities, demonstrating the application of acquired competencies. The quality survey, completed by 40 attendees, indicated that 68% considered this type of course entirely feasible and beneficial, 17% deemed it very feasible, and 15% found it sufficiently feasible. The survey also identified areas for improvement. The strategy for developing virtual courses using YouTube and Google tools is viable and effective for establishing continuous education programs in the region.

In France, in 2007 and 2008, a few deaths occurred for patients who had recently undergone nuclear medicine treatments. Following these events, since there were few guidelines, the French Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) investigated radiation protection measures applicable after the death of such patients. An initial study conducted between 2008 and 2016 was updated in 2022 to account for new clinically introduced radionuclides. This article consolidates these efforts to provide a comprehensive overview of operational guidelines for professionals involved in the body transport and embalming of deceased patients after a nuclear medicine treatment. Dose assessments were performed using conservative assumptions based on insights from funeral service professionals. As a result, post-mortem waiting periods required to meet a dose constraint of 300 µSv per operation were established. Except for iodine-131 used in cancer treatment (Sodium iodide, MIBG, and Lipiocis®) and therapeutic indium-111 pentetreotide, the recommended waiting periods were estimated to be less than a week. These recommendations will serve as a valuable resource for nuclear medicine departments and funeral professionals to manage the death of a patient after nuclear medicine treatment.

The relationship between radiation dose indices and patient size was investigated in adult brain CT scans to assess the significance of considering the patient size for radiation dose management. Two hundred patients who underwent brain CT using automatic exposure control were enrolled. The radiation dose indices (volume CT dose index, CTDIvol; size-specific dose estimate, SSDE; dose length product, DLP) were compared with the head size indices (effective diameter, ED; water-equivalent diameter, WED) and body weight. The CTDIvol and SSDE correlated positively with the ED and WED. The correlations were higher for the WED than the ED and for the CTDIvol than the SSDE. Although the DLP also correlated positively with the ED and the WED, the correlations were lower than those for the CTDIvol and the SSDE. The CTDIvol and SSDE showed significant positive correlations with body weight, but the correlations were lower than those for the ED. In conclusion, the radiation dose indices in adult brain CT correlate with the head size indices. Consideration of the head size indices is recommended for radiation dose management in brain CT. The relationship between the radiation dose indices and body weight may be of some significance when the head size indices are not readily available.

Les notions de danger et de risque sont très souvent confondues. Bien qu’étant proches, elles recouvrent des réalités différentes, que ce soit dans le domaine des risques naturels et technologiques ou dans d’autres domaines. Ceci est vrai également dans le domaine de la radioprotection. De plus ces deux notions évoluent dans le temps avec les évolutions de la société et la perception sociale du risque. Ces évolutions entraînent des conséquences sur le système de radioprotection qui devront être prises en compte dans les études de risque et les réflexions en cours sur l’évolution des recommandations générales de la CIPR.

This study highlights the significance of radioprotection in interventional radiology, focusing on the assessment of Effective Dose values to which patients are exposed. To facilitate this, we developed a semi-automatic software employing Optical Character Recognition technology. This software analysed 1125 interventional procedures conducted between January 2021 and September 2023 at a large Brazilian hospital. The database includes the type of procedure, Air Kerma value, Kerma-Area Product, number of cineangiography images, and exposure duration, all realized on an Artis Zee® (Siemens Healthineers, Germany) C-arm. We established Local Diagnostic Reference Levels (LDRLs) and calculated Effective Dose values using the PCXMC 2.0 Monte Carlo simulation software. These calculations were based on data from the hospital and LDRLs determined in subsequent studies. The findings reveal that both the LDRLs and the calculated Effective Dose generally fall below the values reported in existing literature. This underscores the efficacy of our methodology in enhancing radioprotection and dose monitoring within the studied hemodynamics sector.

Ionizing radiation is energy in wave or particle form that can be absorbed by occupationally exposed professionals. With exposure, diseases may occur as defined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans 2000. Therefore, identifying hazards, assessing risks, and evaluating experiences of the involved parties, available resources, and work processes is necessary. We analysed risk perception compared with the pillars of radiological protection (justification/optimization/limitation) and the principles of distance/time/shielding. We used qualitative methodology under the phenomenological paradigm to assess participants perceptions regarding the ionizing radiation risk using conversational interviews. The data collection period was 2019–2020. The interpretative work was conducted by thematizing interviews, which were categorised and schematized for analysis. The practices of five participants with at least 20 years of experience in radiation use were explored. Five categories were identified. We found that the ‘As Low As Reasonably Achievable’ principle was recognised based on distance/time/shielding and according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Bonn Call for Action. The justification associated with the risk/benefit was not associated with the fear of being wrong, with the understanding that, according to the IAEA, 30% of procedures are not justified.

Introduction: Radiographers play a vital role in patient radiation protection. Their training, supervision, and involvement in radiation protection programmes require greater attention from all stakeholders. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and August 2023 to assess Radiographers’ attitudes toward the principles of patient radiation protection in the Souss Massa region of Morocco. An anonymous questionnaire containing 22 questions was sent to 80 radiographers practicing in the Sous Massa region. Results: 67.5% of the radiographers confirmed that they did not use a guide to radiological procedures. 85% of them confirmed that they had checked for the possibility of pregnancy each time a woman of childbearing age was involved in a conventional X-ray, compared with 97.5% who checked for the possibility of pregnancy in a CT scan. 97.5 % of our participants said that they automatically (without medical advice) repeated the X-ray examination if the image was not interpretable. 90% of radiographers said that they did not report parameters for dose estimation for each conventional X-ray examination, and 72.5% did not report data for dose estimation for CT-scan examinations. The results showed no association between gender and professional experience on the one hand and radiographers’ practices on the other. Nevertheless, there is an association between the workplace and certain radiographers’ practices, indicating the lack of a regional strategy aimed at standardizing procedures and radiation protection practices at the level of all radiology departments. Conclusion: It is vital to launch a patient dose management program in the Souss Massa region and campaigns to raise radiographers’ awareness of recommended patient radiation protection practices.

This study aimed to examine both concerns about future childbirth and childcare associated with radiation exposure among men and women in different prefectures. In December 2018, a cross-sectional, online questionnaire-based survey was conducted on 620 adults in the general population. The survey included 155 men and 155 women who lived in Fukushima Prefecture at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake (March 11, 2011), and 155 men and 155 women who lived outside of Fukushima Prefecture. Regardless of gender and prefecture, the greater the perceived anxiety about radiation effects on a partner, the greater the perceived anxiety about future childbirth. In addition, those who did not want to have children were more anxious about rearing children in the future. Compared with women in other prefectures, men in Fukushima Prefecture were more knowledgeable about radiation, thought that radiation would have fewer health effects on their children, and were more confident about future childbearing. These findings suggest that for those who are anxious about future childbirth and childcare, it is important to create an environment where necessary information can be accessed regardless of gender or residence in an area affected by a nuclear accident.