It is estimated that there are 2.3 million healthcare personnel in the world who are working with radiation related practices, and half of them are exposed to human-made artificial radiation and ionized radiation (1).In modern life the resistivity of radiation is impossible and the adverse effects of ionized radiation are known by majority. The international institutions which are authority on radiation and its practice fields are determined the minimum allowed dosage ranges for professionals who are working with radiation (2, 3).Ionizing radiation comes from both natural and man-made materials (4, 5). From a total of 18% man-made radiations, around 15% exposures are due to the medical x-rays and nuclear medicine imaging (6, 7). The ionizing radiation that comes from man-made sources can be controlled and prevented, but there is little we can do for radiations that comes from natural sources (3, 4).Radiology departments in health institutions use different imaging modalities: both ionizing radiation (such as x-ray, fluoroscopy, mammography, and nuclear medicine and computer tomography) and non-ionizing radiations (such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging) for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes (8). X-ray radiation has dose-dependent adverse effects that lead to an increased risk of developing cancer (9).A review of previous published studies demonstrates that health care professionals have limited knowledge about radiation dose and risks with medical imaging examinations is very low, with various health care professionals having limited knowledge about the awareness of doses and associated risks of radiation from imaging procedures(10,11).

The aim and objective of this research is to evaluate and assess the knowledge and awareness in radiation health workers (Physicians, Allied health workers, Medical physicist and other Para medical staff) regarding the radiation exposure and associated risk in patients and occupational health worker in different centers of radiation department in Karachi, Pakistan.

A cross sectional, survey based study was conducted in radiation department of different hospitals of the Karachi. A questionnaire was sent to all the radiation departments (Nuclear medicine, Radiology and Radiation therapy department) and filled by the target audience.The questionnaire consists of 25 questions which is divided into two parts, the first one included demographic details such as gender, qualification, occupation, years of working experience and regarding formal education on radiation protection while other part included questions about radiation dose and its hazard and radiation protection.

Some questions were in multiple choice format with four to five options and only one correct answer and  some were close ended questions to answer either in Yes or No. A ‘correct’ answer was given one mark and no mark was given for ‘incorrect/do not know’ answers. The point score range from 0 to 11, with higher scores representing greater knowledge about radiation doses and the associated risks.

A cross sectional, survey based study was conducted in radiation department of different hospitals of the Karachi. A questionnaire was sent to all the radiation departments (Nuclear medicine, Radiology and Radiation therapy department) and filled by the target audience.The questionnaire consists of 25 questions which is divided into two parts, the first one included demographic details such as gender, qualification, occupation, years of working experience and regarding formal education on radiation protection while other part included questions about radiation dose and its hazard and radiation protection.Some questions were in multiple choice format with four to five options and only one correct answer and  some were close ended questions to answer either in Yes or No. A ‘correct’ answer was given one mark and no mark was given for ‘incorrect/do not know’ answers. The point score range from 0 to 11, with higher scores representing greater knowledge about radiation doses and the associated risks.

During this survey out of 120 questionnaires 99 were filled by radiation health worker from different radiation hospital centers. Out of this 47% were male and the 53% were female. The sample included 50% technologist, 30 % consultant, 14% medical physicist and 6% were others (Radio pharmacist, Biomedical Engineer and Dosimeterist).

Out of this 68% respondents had received formal training on radiation protection. The overall mean scoring of correct response  was 8.6% and the mean correct response were 76.7% which indicated that respondents has knowledge about the radiation dose and regarding awareness 89% aware of radiation protection equipment while 84% aware of radiation emergency procedure and 81% responses has knowledge about radiation protection principle.