Analysis of Dentists' Knowledge of X-Ray Protection and Radiobiology in Isfahan

Abstract

Introduction
Along with the increasing development of X-ray diagnostic applications, the individuals dealing in any manner with this ray are obliged to be appropriately trained for the adverse effects of and protection against, X-ray and get fully acquainted with the same. A group dealing with X-ray are the dentists. This study generally aims at surveying the level of Isfahan city dentists' knowledge ofX-ray protection & radiobiology.

Methods
We initially gained a permit from the Province Deputy of Treatment and Medicine and then referred at random to 210 dentistry offices to distribute prearranged questionnaires to the dentists so that they complete them in our presence. We thus assessed their knowledge of protection for patients, radiographers' work environment & X-ray radiobiology.

Results
The distribution of relative frequency of the dentists under study in connection with their knowledge of environmental protection was respectively "good", "average", "poor" and "very good". The same distribution regarding protection for patients, radiographers & radiobiology was respectively "good", "average", "very good" and "poor". On total, regarding the level of protection and radiobiology knowledge, 67.6% of the dentists lay in the "good", 21.9% in the "average", 10% in the "very good" and 0.5% in the "poor" groups. 126 out of 210 offices were equipped with radiography machine and the mean knowledge score of the equipped (centres) dentists
was 61.5, whereas that of the unequipped dentists was 51.76.

Discussion
Regarding the T.test results, p value < 0.05, a statistically significant difference exists between the above mentioned 2 groups, i.e., the mean knowledge score of the dentists equipped with radiography machine regarding protection and X-ray radiobiology is higher than that of the unequipped dentists.

Key words
Protection, Radiobiology, X-ray