Utilization of radiation monitoring devices among radio-diagnostic staff of secondary and tertiary hospitals in Jos, Nigeria: a comparative study

Radio-diagnostic staff are expected to always and routinely adorn a form of radiation monitoring device to enable objective monitoring of the exposure to each individual with such monitoring aimed at checking any ill effects of radiation. This cross-sectional study aimed at comparing the utilization of radiation monitoring devices among radio-diagnostic staff was conducted in 2 tertiary hospitals and 2 secondary hospitals in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria between August 2019 and October 2019. Consenting staff of radio-diagnostic departments of the 4 hospitals filled up a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. A total of 60 staff: 51(85%) in the tertiary, and 9 (15%) in the secondary hospitals participated in the study. A positive attitude to the proper use of radiation monitoring device was found to be higher among staff in the tertiary hospitals (44/51; 86.3%) compared to those in the secondary hospitals (7/9; 77.8%); χ2=0.4332, p=0.510. Statistically significant association was established between age of staff and attitude to use of the monitoring device in tertiary facilities: χ2= 9.379, p=0.05, and also between age of staff, years in service and years in the department and the practical usage of the radiation monitoring device among the staff of the secondary hospitals: χ2= 9.000, p=0.029; χ23.937, p=0.047; χ23.937, p=0.047 respectively. The utilization of radiation monitoring devices among the radio-diagnostic staff in Jos was predominantly positive. Age of the staff, years in service as well as years in the present department were significant associations to utilization of radiation monitoring devices among staff across the two hospital categories.