Health care quality and impact on: radiologists in Menoufiya hospitals

ABSTRACT

This Study aimed to assess the protective measures done for prevention of health hazards of ionizing radiation in Menoufiya hospitals. This was achieved through assessment of the environmental safety, performance of radiologists and also through assessment of the health hazards among exposed subjects. All occupationally X-ray exposed workers [l05 males and 37 females] were matched with an equal number of controls, the exposed workers were subdivided into two subgroups according to locality. This study revealed that although the studied work place environment was considered safe as regards the level of exposure to ionizing radiation [88.7 +/- 20 mrem / year, which is less than MPDE limit] and consequently acceptable structural protective aspects design especially in group I hospitals, but the prevalence of health hazards including behavioral [69.7%], reproductive [21%], skin [25%], cataract [19%] and hematological [33%] abnormalities were significantly higher than controls, also the prevalence of reproductive, skin and hematological disorders were significantly higher among group II workers than group I which could be attributed to bad performance of the radiologists especially in group II workers. Performance of radiologists with negligence of radiation protection measures is considered the most important defect which has its bad impact on health of radiologists in Menoufiya, hence efforts should be directed towards establishment of radiation protection program in hospitals