Impact of Radiation Safety Training and Years of Experience after Cardiology Training on Radiation Safety Practices : An Alarming Trend identified and Solutions offered!

BackgroundOccupational radiation exposure remains a persistent and underestimated hazard in cardiac catheterization laboratories. We evaluated the impact of post-licensure radiation safety training on adherence to radiation safety practices among interventional cardiologists MethodsA nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted between May 2022 and August 2023 among 753 interventional cardiologists Radiation safety knowledge and practise were assesses across five domains - dose awareness, time, distance, shielding, and collimation - and combined into a composite Radiation Safety Score (RSS), with a maximum possible score of 100. Demographic and practice-related variables were analyzed, and multivariable log-linear regression was used to identify independent predictors of higher RSS. ResultsOf the 753 respondents, 716 met inclusion criteria. The median age was 44 years (IQR 37-52), and the mean catheterization laboratory experience was 11 {+/-} 8.7 years. Two-thirds (66%) had attended at least one post-licensure radiation safety training program. The mean RSS was 56.5 {+/-} 21.7, and only 16.3% achieved scores [&ge;] 75. Trained participants demonstrated significantly higher performance across all five radiation safety domains (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). In multivariable analysis, post-licensure radiation safety training independently predicted higher RSS ({beta} = 0.216, p = 0.005), corresponding to a 24.1% higher adjusted score. Experience >10 years was also an independent predictor of superior RSS ({beta} = 0.267, p < 0.001). ConclusionRadiation safety practices among interventional cardiologists in India are suboptimal, and requires substantial improvement. Participation in post-licensure radiation safety is independently associated with significantly better adherence across all major radiation safety domains. Incorporating structured radiation safety lectures and workshops into cardiology conferences- particularly targeted at early-career interventional cardiologists --may help strengthen safety culture and improve long-term occupational protection.