Deficits in Radiation Health Affects Knowledge among Emergency Nurses in Japan’s Nuclear Emergency Core Hospitals

Abstract

Background: In the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station disaster in 2011, Japan established Nuclear Emergency Core Hospitals (NECHs) to prepare for future nuclear incidents. Objective: This study investigates the knowledge and health anxiety related to radiation among nurses working in emergency units at NECHs in Kagoshima Prefecture. Methods: A web-based questionnaire was distributed to 36 nurses, utilizing a cross-sectional design with a response rate of 55.6%. The survey covered demographic details and posed questions about radiation health effects and nuclear disaster medicine. Results: Results revealed that only 30% had studied radiation health effects at educational institutions, and 95% expressed a desire for further training. The correct response rate for questions about nuclear disaster medicine was over 40%, but less than 10% for questions about radiation health effects. Conclusion: Despite limitations such as sample size and potential sampling bias, this study is the first of its kind. It highlights the urgent need for comprehensive training programs to improve nurses' knowledge and alleviate their health anxieties about radiation. Future research should extend this study to other regions and countries to validate these findings.