scholarly journals Evaluation of Radiographers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Performance Regarding Gonadal Shielding in Diagnostic Radiology Examinations: Southern Khorasan Province Hospitals of Iran

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nima Hamzian ◽  
Saeed Asadian ◽  
Asiye Golestani ◽  
Hassan Zarghani

Background: Nowadays, ionizing radiation is increasingly used in medicine. One of the most frequent X-ray examinations is pelvic radiography. Gonads are susceptible in the pelvic area. Gonadal shielding (GS) is a useful method to reduce the received dose by gonads. Despite the benefits of using gonadal shielding, it is rarely used by radiographers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in ten governmental hospitals with 300 radiographs. Results: The radiographers’ knowledge of using GS had a value equal to 59.1%. However, the radiographers did not have enough information on the subject, although their awareness about the significance of GS was acceptable. Conclusions: Although the radiographers believed in the necessity of using GS for pelvic, abdominal, and spine examinations, they used no shields.

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 803-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Vimercati ◽  
Luigi De Maria ◽  
Francesca Mansi ◽  
Antonio Caputi ◽  
Giovanni M. Ferri ◽  
...  

Background: Thyroid diseases occur more frequently in people exposed to ionizing radiation, but the relationship between occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and thyroid pathologies still remains unclear. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of thyroid diseases in healthcare workers exposed to low-level ionizing radiation compared with a control group working at the University Hospital of Bari, Southern Italy, and living in the same geographical area, characterized by mild iodine deficiency. Methods: We ran a cross-sectional study to investigate whether healthcare workers exposed to ionizing radiation had a higher prevalence of thyroid diseases. Four hundred and forty-four exposed healthcare workers (241 more exposed, or “A Category”, and 203 less exposed, or “B Category”) and 614 nonexposed healthcare workers were enrolled during a routine examination at the Occupational Health Unit. They were asked to fill in an anamnestic questionnaire and undergo a physical examination, serum determination of fT3, fT4 and TSH, anti-TPO ab and anti-TG ab and ultrasound neck scan. Thyroid nodules were submitted to fine needle aspiration biopsy when indicated. Results: The prevalence of thyroid diseases was statistically higher in the exposed workers compared to controls (40% vs 29%, adPR 1.65; IC95% 1.34-2.07). In particular, the thyroid nodularity prevalence in the exposed group was approximately twice as high as that in the controls (29% vs 13%; adPR 2.83; IC95% 2.12-3.8). No statistically significant association was found between exposure to ionizing radiation and other thyroid diseases. Conclusion: In our study, mild ionizing radiation-exposed healthcare workers had a statistically higher prevalence of thyroid diseases than the control group. The results are likely due to a closer and more meticulous health surveillance programme carried out in the ionising radiation-exposed workers, allowing them to identify thyroid alterations earlier than non-exposed health staff.


Author(s):  
R. Behzadmehr ◽  
E. Nejadkehkha

Despite many advances in the diagnosis, screening, and rapid treatment of tuberculosis, it is still a public health concern in the world. Due to the importance of this issue in diagnosis and reduction of transmission of infection and treatment of the disease especially where this study is conducted due to the high prevalence of tuberculosis, this study was done to determine The relationship between sputum smear positivity grade and chest X-ray findings in pulmonary tuberculosis patients in a hospital in southeast of Iran. This cross-sectional study was performed on all patients with pulmonary TB referencing the health centers in Zabol city, southeast of Iran from 1 January 2015 to 30 December 2020. Sputum smear and radiographic findings of the chest X-ray were evaluated. Data was collected using a form of information and finally analyzed by SPSS 22. Out of 101 patients examined in the present study, 71 were women and 30 were men. The mean age of the patients was 62.68 ± 13.61 years. The frequency of opacity in patients with grades 1, 2, and 3 was 71.4, 78.5, and 76.5%, respectively. Frequency of cavitation in patients with Grade 1, 2 and 3 was 11.5%, 28.5% and 52.9% respectively (P value 0.001). The frequency of reticulonodular presentations in patients with grade 1, 2, and 3 was 24.2, 7.1, and 0%, respectively.  In general, the results of this study showed that, with increasing grading of smears (1+, 2+, and 3+), the frequency of cavitation presentation increased significantly and the frequency of reticulonodular presentations decreased significantly. In general, the results of this study showed that, with increasing grading of smears (, the frequency of Cavitation presentation increased significantly and the frequency of reticulonodular presentations decreased significantly. The findings of the present study can help physicians better diagnose TB.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Joanitah Nalunjogi ◽  
Frank Mugabe ◽  
Irene Najjingo ◽  
Pastan Lusiba ◽  
Francis Olweny ◽  
...  

The WHO END TB strategy requires ≥90% case detection to combat tuberculosis (TB). Increased TB case detection requires a more sensitive and specific screening tool. Currently, the symptoms recommended for screening TB have been found to be suboptimal since up to 44% of individuals with TB are asymptomatic. The chest X-ray (CXR) as a screening tool for pulmonary TB was evaluated in this study, as well as its incremental yield in TB diagnosis using a cross-sectional study involving secondary analysis of data of 4512 consented/assented participants ≥15 years who participated in the Uganda National TB prevalence survey between 2014 and 2015. Participants with a cough ≥2 weeks, fever, weight loss, and night sweats screened positive for TB using the symptoms screening method, while participants with a TB defining abnormality on CXR screened positive for TB by the CXR screening method. The Löwenstein-Jensen (LJ) culture was used as a gold standard for TB diagnosis. The CXR had 93% sensitivity and 65% specificity compared to LJ culture results, while symptoms had 76% sensitivity and 31% specificity. The screening algorithm involving the CXR in addition to symptoms led to a 38% increment in the yield of diagnosed tuberculosis. The number needed to screen using the CXR and symptoms screening algorithm was 32 compared to 45 when the symptoms are used alone. Therefore, the CXR in combination with symptoms is a good TB screening tool and increases the yield of diagnosed TB.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marchel S. Vetrile ◽  
Aleksandr A. Kuleshov ◽  
Nikolai A. Eskin ◽  
Mikhail B. Tsykunov ◽  
Alexey I. Kokorev ◽  
...  

Aim. We defined the prevalence of back pain in children and adolescents aged 917 years with spinal deformities. Material and methods. The cross-sectional study included 230 students with different spinal deformities aged 917 years. The prevalence of back pain, intensity, location, and situations in which it occurred were assessed via questionnaire. Results. Among 230 respondents, 186 (80.9%) admitted that they had experienced back pain (mainly in the lumbar spine) at various frequencies within the year preceding the study. Mild pain was prevalent (71% of respondents). Girls experienced back pain significantly more frequently than boys. Conclusions. Back pain in children and adolescents requires clinical and instrumental examination, including X-ray. Back pain is a frequent phenomenon in children with different spinal deformities. Тhe incidence of pain in children and adolescents with spinal deformities in our study is statistically higher than that of healthy individuals of the same age group.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 621-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen P. Bovalino ◽  
Neil J. Cunningham ◽  
Rachel D. Zordan ◽  
Samuel M. Harkin ◽  
Heidi H.G. Thies ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Thorlton ◽  
William B. Collins

College students are heavy consumers of energy beverages, yet further study is needed to better understand determinants of use. The purpose of this cross-sectional study ( N = 283) was to identify beliefs explaining unsafe consumption practices. A principal components analysis revealed three eigenvalues >1 explaining approximately 55% of the variance (health and appearance, performance and fatigue, and recreation and alcohol). Multiple regression analysis explained 75% of the variance for intent to consume. Standardized beta for attitude and subjective norms was p < .001; perceived behavioral control was p < .05. MANOVA was used to determine the effect of gender on eight dependent variables (Wilks’s lambda = 3.78, p < .001). Attitudes and subjective norms influenced the intent to consume energy beverages, particularly in males. Students viewed energy beverages as useful for managing health and appearance and performance and fatigue, and as a way to enhance recreation and alcohol consumption.


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