Knowledge level of medical students about ionising radiation used for diagnostic purpose in radiology: a survey study

Abstract

People exposed to ionising radiation may develop harmful somatic and genetic effects in their anatomical structures. Technological advancements, particularly in radiological devices, research and examinations result in a significant increase in the number of radiological investigations. This large number of radiological examinations increased the number of patients affected by ionising radiation. This study aims to evaluate the medical students' knowledge of ionising radiation and, examine the level of knowledge of medical students on the awareness and safety of ionising radiation exposure, emphasises the importance of radiation curricula internship programmes. This study is a survey application. The chi-square test is used. As a result, the intern's knowledge of ionising radiation increased significantly after the internship in a radiology unit. Although it has been significantly increased, it is still insufficient. This gap can be filled by incorporating radiology unit internship programmes into the curriculum of medical faculty education programmes.