Andragogic Improvements in Radiation Safety Training

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Occupational Health
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Daily use of radioactive materials and radiation-producing machines in healthcare settings necessitates robust safety protocols.
• An increase in minor, preventable radiation safety incidents at UAB raised concerns about current training program effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a revised radiation safety training program incorporating andragogic principles.
• To assess the impact of evidence-based adult learning strategies on information retention in radiation workers.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review on post-COVID andragogic online training, statistical analyses, and retention competencies was conducted.
• A new training curriculum based on andragogic principles (controlled simulation, critical thinking) was developed and implemented.
• Pre-testing and post-testing scores were collected from a UAB radiation worker subgroup; ANCOVA was used for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• The revised training program, based on andragogic principles, demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in knowledge retention (p = 0.018).
• Analysis using ANCOVA indicated that even minor modifications to the training curriculum can lead to significant gains in retaining key radiation safety information.

Conclusions:

• Andragogic principles, particularly controlled simulation for critical thinking, are effective for adult learners in radiation safety training.
• Evidence-based adjustments to training curricula can significantly enhance radiation safety knowledge retention and potentially reduce incidents.