• Adnan Tüfek, Orhan Tokgöz, Feyzi Celik, Ilker Ongüç Aycan, Abdurrahman Gümüş, Feyzi Çelik, and Ilker Öngüç Aycan.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, 21280, Diyarbakir, Turkey, adnantufek@hotmail.com.
• J Anesth. 2013 Dec 1;27(6):874-8.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of anesthesiologists to radiation exposure and current safety practice in Turkey.MethodsThe study enrolled anesthesiologists from all over Turkey, including all levels of academic degrees and all types of different institutions. Questionnaire forms were sent via e-mail to 505 anesthesiologists. The survey collected demographic data such as age, gender, position, and the institution at which the participant worked, and data about the frequency of radiation exposure during procedures and the participant's attitudes concerning radiation safety measures during these procedures.ResultsThe questionnaire forms were delivered to 491 anesthesiologists, and 301 (61.3 %) of these were returned. Of these, 9 had not completed the questionnaire because of a lack of exposure to radiation. Among the remaining 292 personnel, the weekly frequencies of radiation exposure were more than five times (36.7 %), one to five times (50.3 %), and less than once (13 %) per week, respectively. Only a few anesthesiologists regularly wore a lead apron (30.11 %) and a thyroid shield (11.3 %) during procedures involving radiation exposure.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that nearly all anesthesiologists are regularly exposed to radiation and that few anesthesiologists in Turkey wear protective clothing, which is essential for radiation protection. Therefore, if it is not, increasing awareness about radiation protection should be an integral part of medical training and education.

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