Publication Date

2020

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Daniel, Manju

Degree Name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Legacy Department

School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions

Abstract

Background: Radiation safety culture is a fundamental contributor to procedural justification, exam optimization, and dose-limiting practices in medical imaging. Multiple intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy factors could influence the outcomes of radiation safety culture.

Purpose and Aims: The purpose of the study was to examine the determinants of radiation safety culture among U.S. radiologic technologists. The specific aims were to: 1) develop a survey instrument tailored to radiation actions and dimensions of radiation safety with a sequential use of multiple techniques; 2) examine determinants of radiation safety culture employing McLeroy’s socioecological model; 3) examine relationship between the determinants of radiation safety culture and outcomes of radiation safety culture.

Methods: The newly developed 52-item survey (I-CVI: 0.97 and Cronbach’s α: 0.86) was used to guide the hypotheses testing. The sample included radiologic technologists working in radiography, mammography, or computed tomography. The quantitative cross-sectional design resulted in 425 qualified participants. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and the Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and one-way analysis of variance were used to analyze hypotheses.

Results: The study found eleven traits correlated with overall perception of radiation safety with statistical significance, suggesting each are determinants of radiation safety culture. Further, the study found that leadership actions (β = .402, p < .001), teamwork across imaging stakeholders (β = .304, p = .011), organizational learning (β = .121, p = .007), and questioning attitude (β = .110, p = .001) predicted overall perception of radiation safety. Mean differences between years of experience (p = .001), primary employed imaging modality (p < .001), primary role (p = .01) and shift length (p < .001) for overall perception of radiation safety were also found.

Conclusion: The study presents a unique multi-determinant examination of radiation safety culture among U.S. radiologic technologists and provides findings to support future clinically oriented radiation safety culture evaluations.

Extent

168 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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