Analysis about radiation risk perception among university students from San Carlos de Bariloche and radiological protection experts from Argentina

Radiation risk perception must be studied by communication and radiological protection specialists, taking account of engineering, social and cultural variables. An anonymous and voluntary survey was peformed to enquire about the radiation risk perception among university students and radiological p...

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Main Authors: Pablo Andres, Astrid Bengtsson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Brazilian Radiation Protection Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Proteção Radiológica, SBPR) 2024-09-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2234
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author Pablo Andres
Astrid Bengtsson
author_facet Pablo Andres
Astrid Bengtsson
author_sort Pablo Andres
collection DOAJ
description Radiation risk perception must be studied by communication and radiological protection specialists, taking account of engineering, social and cultural variables. An anonymous and voluntary survey was peformed to enquire about the radiation risk perception among university students and radiological protection experts from Argentina, and to become aware of how it is perceived compared to other health risks. A fifteen-question dedicated questionnaire was designed including socio-demographic variables and questions about work environment, risk perception and risk communication. A five-point Likert-type scale was used for most of the questions. Surveyed people were asked to compare radiological risks in medicine with other risks (i.e.: smoking, sports, leisure activities, stress). The research involved 10 (38.5%) experts, 25 (45%) physics and engineering students and 40 (100%) bio-images production bachelor students. The results were analysed based on the professional or academic background. Although participants considered the radiation exposure in medicine as a low-risk activity, the results showed a disagreement about the radiation risk perception in particular situations (i.e.: living near a nuclear power plant, training in radiological protection while at college) and about radiation risk communication strategies. There is neither right nor wrong risk perception; however, a lot of work must be done to build an agreement between radiological risk perception and risk assessment due to radiation exposure in medicine. It should include working on the design of public policies focused on radiological protection training for health staff and clinical research training for medical physicists and radiological protection specialists, while strengthening communication skills and channels.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2319-0612
language English
publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher Brazilian Radiation Protection Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Proteção Radiológica, SBPR)
record_format Article
series Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences
spelling doaj-art-3e403f7c0aae49af981150bbc2fe73022025-08-20T03:30:25ZengBrazilian Radiation Protection Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Proteção Radiológica, SBPR)Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences2319-06122024-09-01121A (Suppl.)e2234e223410.15392/2319-0612.2024.22341852Analysis about radiation risk perception among university students from San Carlos de Bariloche and radiological protection experts from ArgentinaPablo Andres0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4975-1000Astrid Bengtsson1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9666-188XNational Atomic Energy CommissionComisión Nacional de Energía Atómica / Universidad Nacional de Río NegroRadiation risk perception must be studied by communication and radiological protection specialists, taking account of engineering, social and cultural variables. An anonymous and voluntary survey was peformed to enquire about the radiation risk perception among university students and radiological protection experts from Argentina, and to become aware of how it is perceived compared to other health risks. A fifteen-question dedicated questionnaire was designed including socio-demographic variables and questions about work environment, risk perception and risk communication. A five-point Likert-type scale was used for most of the questions. Surveyed people were asked to compare radiological risks in medicine with other risks (i.e.: smoking, sports, leisure activities, stress). The research involved 10 (38.5%) experts, 25 (45%) physics and engineering students and 40 (100%) bio-images production bachelor students. The results were analysed based on the professional or academic background. Although participants considered the radiation exposure in medicine as a low-risk activity, the results showed a disagreement about the radiation risk perception in particular situations (i.e.: living near a nuclear power plant, training in radiological protection while at college) and about radiation risk communication strategies. There is neither right nor wrong risk perception; however, a lot of work must be done to build an agreement between radiological risk perception and risk assessment due to radiation exposure in medicine. It should include working on the design of public policies focused on radiological protection training for health staff and clinical research training for medical physicists and radiological protection specialists, while strengthening communication skills and channels.https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2234radiationmedicinehealthcommunication
spellingShingle Pablo Andres
Astrid Bengtsson
Analysis about radiation risk perception among university students from San Carlos de Bariloche and radiological protection experts from Argentina
Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences
radiation
medicine
health
communication
title Analysis about radiation risk perception among university students from San Carlos de Bariloche and radiological protection experts from Argentina
title_full Analysis about radiation risk perception among university students from San Carlos de Bariloche and radiological protection experts from Argentina
title_fullStr Analysis about radiation risk perception among university students from San Carlos de Bariloche and radiological protection experts from Argentina
title_full_unstemmed Analysis about radiation risk perception among university students from San Carlos de Bariloche and radiological protection experts from Argentina
title_short Analysis about radiation risk perception among university students from San Carlos de Bariloche and radiological protection experts from Argentina
title_sort analysis about radiation risk perception among university students from san carlos de bariloche and radiological protection experts from argentina
topic radiation
medicine
health
communication
url https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2234
work_keys_str_mv AT pabloandres analysisaboutradiationriskperceptionamonguniversitystudentsfromsancarlosdebarilocheandradiologicalprotectionexpertsfromargentina
AT astridbengtsson analysisaboutradiationriskperceptionamonguniversitystudentsfromsancarlosdebarilocheandradiologicalprotectionexpertsfromargentina