Qualitative descriptions of health protective behavior in catheterization laboratory nurses exposed to occupational radiation hazards

To explore the experience and perception of health protective behavior in catheterization laboratory nurses exposed to occupational radiation hazards (HPB-CLNEORH). A qualitative descriptive design was utilized, as the interpretation level depends on the research question and without moving too far from the data from informants. Sixteen informants were recruited by purposive sampling in 16 different tertiary hospital from Eastern, Central, and Western region of China, respectively. Thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the data. Seven essential themes of HPB-CLNEORH with 24 subthemes were identified in the study, including radiation protection safety practice, personal health practice, health preventive care, support seeking, specialty nursing practice, harmful environment avoidance, harmful substances avoidance. The participants disclosed their experience and perception to decrease the risk of deterministic effects and stochastic effects from radiation. It should be not only in workplace, but also in routine life. Some participants even believed that once there had been a certain duration of exposure to radiation in the work history, health protective behavior should be maintained throughout the entire lifecycle. This was the first qualitive study in exploring the experience and perception of HPB-CLNEORH. Findings from this study will add to the current knowledge body of nursing and occupational health knowledge about health protective behavior (HPB). Further research can explore the HPB-CLNEORH in other hospital settings or utilize other qualitative methodologies as a supplement and improvement to the body of nursing knowledge.