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Assessment of an Emergency Medicine System for Radiation Accidents in Korea: A State Survey of the Workers Involved the Medical Response to Radiation Accidents

Author

Listed:
  • You Yeon Choi

    (National Radiation Emergency Medical Center (NREMC), Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences (KIRAMS), Seoul 01812, Korea
    These authors equally contributed to this work.)

  • Mihyun Yang

    (National Radiation Emergency Medical Center (NREMC), Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences (KIRAMS), Seoul 01812, Korea
    Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
    Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
    These authors equally contributed to this work.)

  • Younghyun Lee

    (National Radiation Emergency Medical Center (NREMC), Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences (KIRAMS), Seoul 01812, Korea)

  • Eunil Lee

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
    Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea)

  • Young Woo Jin

    (National Radiation Emergency Medical Center (NREMC), Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences (KIRAMS), Seoul 01812, Korea)

  • Ki Moon Seong

    (National Radiation Emergency Medical Center (NREMC), Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences (KIRAMS), Seoul 01812, Korea)

Abstract

Radiation emergency medicine systems are operated around the world to provide special care for the injured that require immediate medical attention in accidents. The objective of this survey was to evaluate people’s perception of those who design the emergency medical plan for radiation accidents and those who supervise it in Korea. A questionnaire survey was conducted on the people involved in a regulatory system for medical response in a radiation emergency. Of 150 survey recipients, 133 (88.7%) completed the survey, including 92 workers and 41 inspectors. The respondents expressed the view that the national emergency medical plan is prepared above the average level using a Likert-style scale of 1 to 5 (mean = 3.55, SD = 0.74). Interestingly, using the Mann–Whitney U test, it could be shown that inspectors evaluated the emergency medical system for radiation accidents more strictly in all of the questions than the licensee workers, especially on radiation medical emergency preparedness ( p = 0.004) and the governmental regulatory policy for radiation safety ( p = 0.007). For a more efficient system of radiation emergency medicine, licensee workers prioritized the workforce, whereas inspectors favored laws and regulations for safety. The survey results show different perspectives between inspectors and licensee workers, which stem from the actual properties of each occupational role in the regulatory system for radiation medical emergency. These data could be utilized for communication and interaction with relevant people to improve the medical response preparedness against radiation accidents.

Suggested Citation

  • You Yeon Choi & Mihyun Yang & Younghyun Lee & Eunil Lee & Young Woo Jin & Ki Moon Seong, 2021. "Assessment of an Emergency Medicine System for Radiation Accidents in Korea: A State Survey of the Workers Involved the Medical Response to Radiation Accidents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2458-:d:509162
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yoshitake Takebayashi & Yuliya Lyamzina & Yuriko Suzuki & Michio Murakami, 2017. "Risk Perception and Anxiety Regarding Radiation after the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident: A Systematic Qualitative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-13, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. You Yeon Choi & Seung Yeol Yoo & Mihyun Yang & Ki Moon Seong, 2021. "The Current Safety Regulation for Radiation Emergency Medicine in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-9, November.

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