Assessment of Jordanian's Knowledge of the Risks of Radiation Exposure

The growing use of ionizing radiation in medical imaging requires balancing diagnostic benefits with radiation risks. This study assesses awareness and knowledge of radiation doses and risks among Jordanians.

This cross-sectional study surveyed 582 Jordanian social media users online between December and February 2023, using 24 multiple-choice questions on demographics, radiological health risks, and precautionary awareness.

The cohort consisted of 321 (55%) males and 261 (45%) females, with most patients (54%) being from the 18-30 age group. Findings revealed a 42% incidence of direct radiation exposure within the past six months, predominantly advised by physicians (82%). Notably, 94% of participants recognized the risk of radiation exposure to pregnant women's pelvic and abdominal regions. Awareness of the carcinogenic potential of radiation was high (92%), yet only 18% reported wearing protective gear during exposure. There was a significant difference between medical and non-medical respondents in the awareness of wearing protective gear (25% vs. 11%, p-value < 0.001), risk of cancer, infertility, cataracts, and the effect of spiral CT scans to 100-800 X-rays (83% vs. 69%, p-value < 0.001). In addition, 37% of medical respondents thought warning signs are enough for comprehensive explanation compared to 27% in non-medical respondents (p-value = 0.012).

The study reveals satisfactory awareness of medical radiation hazards among Jordanians, with disparities between medical and non-medical respondents. However, low protective gear usage and knowledge gaps indicate the need for improved education in radiology and public health campaigns on radiation safety.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13139-025-00919-z.