Development and statistical assessment of a radiation safety literacy measurement tool

Background: The public's understanding of radiation and protection of radiation harm is not high. Therefore, it is meaningful to know the radiation safety literacy level in terms of health care. This study developed a measurement tool that can help to identify the actual condition of radiation safety literacy and conducted the statistical assessment of the developed tool. Materials and Methods: We developed a radiation safety literacy measurement tool in four steps: preliminary term extraction, content validity, face validity, and response scale composition using expert groups such as radiologist, professor of radiological science, angiography nurse, and professor of Korean language. And we developed a questionnaire and conducted a survey on samples of n = 280 (male: 124, female: 156). For statistical assessment, descriptive analysis, Cronbach's coefficient, and correlation analysis were performed, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was obtained. Results: As a result of developing measurement tool of four steps, radiation safety literacy measurement tool consisting of a total of 46 items were developed. The result of the survey showed high reliability with the internal consistency reliability coefficient of 0.963. The correlation coefficient of the developed measurement tool with the rapid estimate of adult literacy in medicine was found to be valid with 0.448 (p<0.05). Conclusion: The radiation safety literacy measurement tool developed in this study can be used as a useful tool for the process of patient evaluation for appropriate communication between the healthcare provider and the patient regarding radiation.