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AWARENESS OF DENTAL STUDENT ABOUT RADIATION HAZARDS AND SAFETY MEASUREMENTS

Abdullah Obaid Alharbi, Prof. Tarik Ibrahim, Abdulaziz Turki Alsahli, Mohammed Abduljawad

Awareness of dental students about radiation hazards and safety measurements Aim: To evaluate the students' knowledge about radiation hazard and protecting methods in Taibah university, Medina, Saudi Arabia in order to improve the students' knowledge about radiation hazards and safety methods in dental clinic. Methods: this was an cross-sectional study that recruited dental students who were working at Taibah university dental clinic, Medina, Saudi Arabia. Through convenience sampling, a structured anonymous questionnaires were distributed. Questionnaires has been filled by 165 students who are involved in dental clinic varying from second to fifth academic year, 102 of the participants were males and 63 were females. Descriptive statistics and inferential analysis were performed. Results The study sample included 165 dental students of whom 62% were males and 38% were females. Forty-percent of the participants have heard about stochastic and non-stochastic effects, 61 %were aware about ALARA principle. The majority of the participants, 75% believed that radiation exposure has an effect on the thyroid gland, 56% remain at a safe distance during exposures, however, protective lead apron has not been used, also 62% said that x-ray is contraindicated in pregnancy. High percentages of the participants did not know the permissible radiation exposure limit for general public 50% or for the workers 40%. Conclusion: The overall level of awareness about radiation hazards and safety measurements among dental students have varied from low to medium. Student must know and use the protection principle to minimize the risk on the patient and the dentist. Keywords: Dental – Radiation – Hazards – Safe – X ray

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