Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals toward radiation safety in Kazakhstan: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Clinicians' overutilization of medical imaging increases patients' exposure to ionizing radiation (IR). Assessing clinicians' knowledge, decision-making, and potential for unnecessary imaging is therefore essential. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals in Kazakhstan regarding imaging procedures involving IR. Methods: -value ≤0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: ≤ 0.05) were associated with a higher number of CT requests per month. Notably, 24.6% reported ordering CT scans without clear clinical indications, influenced by workload pressures, patient expectations, fear of malpractice, and the need to expedite diagnostics. Additionally, 38% rarely reviewed prior imaging studies before ordering CT scans. Conclusion: There is an observed gap in clinicians' knowledge and imaging practices. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions, improved access to prior imaging records, and organizational strategies to optimize medical imaging practices and reduce unnecessary patient exposure to ionizing radiation. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the cross-sectional study design, convenience sampling, and reliance on self-reported data.

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