Radyoloji dışı hekimler arasında nükleer tıp hakkındaki bilgi ve farkındalık: Türkiye'deki iki merkezde gerçekleştirilen kesitsel bir çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: Nükleer tıp, tanı ve tedavide giderek artan bir role sahip olmakla birlikte, Nükleer Tıp ve Radyoloji bölümlerinin dışında çalışan hekimlerin, nükleer tıbbın endikasyonları, radyasyon dozları ve klinik uygulamaları hakkındaki bilgileri sınırlı olabilir. Bu çalışma, bu iki uzmanlık alanının dışında çalışan hekimlerin nükleer tıpta tanı ve tedavi yöntemleri hakkındaki bilgi ve farkındalıklarını değerlendirmeyi amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: Bu kesitsel çalışma, Nisan-Mayıs 2025 tarihlerinde Diyarbakır'daki iki eğitim hastanesinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Nükleer Tıp ve Radyoloji bölümleri dışında çalışan 285 hekime yapılandırılmış bir anket uygulanmıştır. Anket, demografik özellikleri, radyasyon ölçümü ve nükleer tıp uygulamaları hakkındaki bilgileri ve radyasyonla ilgili risklere yönelik tutumları değerlendirmiştir. Bilgi maddelerinden 0 ile 11 arasında değişen bir bilgi puanı hesaplanmıştır. Bulgular: Ortalama bilgi puanı 6,41 ± 2,23 olup, orta düzeyde bir bilgi düzeyini göstermektedir. Katılımcıların %65,3'ü sievert'i radyasyon dozunun birimi olarak doğru bir şekilde tanımlarken, yıllık doğal arka plan radyasyonu (%46,0) ve posteroanterior göğüs röntgeninin yaklaşık dozu (%46,3) hakkındaki bilgi sınırlıydı. Hipertiroidizm (%71,9) ve tiroid kanseri (%77,9) için tedavi edici roller hakkındaki farkındalık, prostat kanseri (%54,4) ve nöroendokrin tümörlerden (%57,2) daha yüksekti. Yanlış anlamalar yaygındı: %62,1'i Nükleer Tıp görüntülemesinin kansere neden olma olasılığının yüksek olduğuna, %43,2'si ise kısırlığa neden olabileceğine inanıyordu. Yarısından fazlası (%57,2) lisans düzeyindeki Nükleer Tıp eğitimini yetersiz buldu. Bilgi puanları yaş, mesleki deneyim, cinsiyet, meslek unvanı ve Nükleer Tıp yöntemlerinin klinik kullanımı ile anlamlı şekilde ilişkiliydi. Sonuç: Hekimlerin bilgi düzeyinin orta düzeyde olduğu, ancak radyasyon dozu bilgisi, tedavi uygulamaları ve risk algısı konularında belirgin eksiklikler gösterdiği tespit edilmiştir. Bu bulgular, Nükleer Tıp alanında daha güçlü eğitim desteğine ihtiyaç duyulduğunu göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Nükleer tıp
• radyasyon farkındalığı
• tıp eğitimi
• hekimler
• teranostik
• Bilgi; risk algısı
• sürekli tıp eğitimi

Knowledge and awareness regarding nuclear medicine among non-radiological physicians: a cross-sectional study in two centers in Türkiye

Abstract

Aim: Nuclear medicine has an expanding role in diagnosis and therapy, yet physicians working outside the departments of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology may have limited knowledge of its indications, radiation doses, and clinical applications. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of physicians working outside these two specialties regarding diagnostic and therapeutic methods in nuclear medicine. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in April–May 2025 at two teaching hospitals in Diyarbakır, Türkiye. A structured questionnaire was administered to 285 physicians working outside the departments of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology. The survey assessed demographic characteristics, knowledge of radiation measurement and nuclear medicine practices, and attitudes toward radiation-related risks. A knowledge score ranging from 0 to 11 was calculated from the knowledge items. Results: The mean knowledge score was 6.41 ± 2.23, indicating a moderate level of knowledge. While 65.3% correctly identified the sievert as the unit of radiation dose, knowledge of annual natural background radiation (46.0%) and the approximate dose of a posteroanterior chest radiograph (46.3%) was limited. Awareness of therapeutic roles was higher for hyperthyroidism (71.9%) and thyroid cancer (77.9%) than for prostate cancer (54.4%) and neuroendocrine tumours (57.2%). Misconceptions were common: 62.1% believed Nuclear Medicine imaging is highly likely to cause cancer, and 43.2% believed it may cause infertility. More than half considered their undergraduate Nuclear Medicine education inadequate (57.2%). Knowledge scores were significantly associated with age, professional experience, gender, professional title, and clinical use of Nuclear Medicine methods. Conclusions: Physicians demonstrated moderate knowledge, with notable gaps in radiation dose knowledge, therapeutic applications, and risk perception. These findings suggest a need for stronger educational support in Nuclear Medicine.

Keywords

• nuclear medicine
• radiation awareness
• medical education
• physicians
• theranostics
• knowledge
• risk perception
• continuing medical education

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