Assessment of job satisfaction, lifestyle behaviors, and occupational burnout symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among radiologic technologists in Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Radiologic technologists (RTs) are among the healthcare staff negatively impacted by job dissatisfaction, occupational stress, and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess job satisfaction, lifestyle behaviors, occupational burnout symptoms, and associated factors among RTs in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A survey study was conducted from January 2021 to February 2022 using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire gathered socio-demographic information, answers to the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, lifestyle behaviors, and frequency of occupational burnout symptoms. Data were analyzed to obtain descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: A total of 261 RTs completed the survey. Participants were predominantly male and most were working in public hospitals. The overall mean score for job satisfaction was 3.77 (of 5), indicating moderate job satisfaction, with two items showing low satisfaction- compensation (3.33) and advancement (3.28). The overall mean score for lifestyle behaviors was 2.00 (of 3), indicating moderate lifestyle behaviors, with the lowest scores reported in sleep quality (1.92), healthy diet (1.85), and relaxing and unwinding (1.86). For burnout symptoms, the overall mean score was 2.30, indicating moderate burnout level, with the highest score reported in experiencing physical symptoms (2.72). There were significant relationships between job satisfaction, lifestyle behaviors and burnout symptoms. A positive and moderate relationship, r = 0.53 (p < 0.05), was found between job satisfaction and healthy lifestyle behaviors. The burnout relationships with job satisfaction, r = -0.615 (p < 0.05), and healthy lifestyle behaviors, r = -0.524 (p < 0.05), were negative and moderate relationships CONCLUSION: The interrelationships between job satisfaction, lifestyle behaviors, and occupational burnout symptoms suggest that improving lifestyle behaviors and managing burnout symptoms could contribute to higher job satisfaction. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Policymakers should focus their efforts in the workplace health promotion programs to play essential roles in promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and occupational stress management, as well as, improvements of RTs career advancement and compensation.

INVESTIGATIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL RADIATION DOSE INCIDENTS RELATED TO MEDICAL PRACTICES IN SAUDI ARABIA.

This study aimed to investigate national incidents related to medical radiation practices in Saudi Arabia from 2015 to 2019, and the actions taken to deal with these cases. The radiation protection program of the Saudi Ministry of Health monitors occupational doses for medical staff. When the radiation doses exceed the assigned investigation levels, an investigation protocol should be followed to identify the reasons and present recommendations. A total of 96 cases of radiation doses were above the investigation levels; 70% above level I, and 30% above level II. These cases were found to be 44% overload exposure, 32% intentional exposure, 8% accidental/unintentional exposure and 16% dosimeter misadventure. The majority of cases (80%) were in 2015 and 2016 with a significant drop in cases following these 2 years mainly due to continuing education and training. Investigations of incidents and the actions taken contributed to improving the radiation protection program.

ASSESSMENT OF EXTERNAL OCCUPATIONAL DOSE OF PHOSPHATE MINE WORKERS IN SAUDI ARABIA USING THERMOLUMINESCENT DOSEMETERS.

Workers in the mining industry face the problem of radiation exposure from naturally occurring radioactive materials. Thus, this study aimed to estimate a Hp (10) doses for mine workers in the phosphate mining industry in Saudi Arabia. The personal dose equivalent [Hp (10)] of 606 mine workers in the phosphate mining industry in Saudi Arabia were obtained from 2016 to 2019 using thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLDs). The results showed that the annual mean Hp (10) of all mine workers averaged over the study period was 0.66 mSv (SD = 0.45), which is within the range of occupational doses reported worldwide. Most of the Hp (10) were <0.49 mSv, and the maximum Hp (10) was 3.55 mSv. Nonetheless, internal exposure should be evaluated along with external exposure to estimate a comprehensive baseline occupational dose for mine workers in the phosphate mining industry in Saudi Arabia.