Radiation Safety Training and Interdepartmental Coordination: A Mixed-methods Study among Multidisciplinary Healthcare Staff

To evaluate the relationship between specialized radiation safety training and the effectiveness of interdepartmental coordination among a multidisciplinary cohort of healthcare professionals. This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study surveyed 173 healthcare professionals from a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia (69 nurses, 52 medical doctors, 52 medical technologists) using a validated questionnaire. Training adequacy and coordination effectiveness were measured via Likert scale items, while open-ended questions identified barriers and areas for improvement. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis tests for professional role comparisons and Spearman's rank correlation to assess the link between training and coordination. Across the three professional groups, training scores ranged from 2.89 to 3.67, with medical technologists reporting significantly higher scores (3.67 ± 0.55) compared to nurses (3.11 ± 0.67) and doctors (2.89 ± 0.67). Similarly, coordination scores ranged from 2.83 to 3.15, with medical technologists reporting significantly higher scores (3.15 ± 0.62) compared to nurses (2.91 ± 0.61) and doctors (2.83 ± 0.73) (H = 32.651, p < 0.0001). Spearman's correlation revealed no significant relationship between training levels and coordination effectiveness (ρ = -0.038, p = 0.6157). Qualitative analysis identified limited access to radiation safety resources (10.4%, n = 18), unclear role definitions and responsibilities (6.9%, n = 12), heavy workload and staff shortages (6.9%, n = 12), and insufficient awareness of radiation risks (6.9%, n = 12) as primary barriers. Individualized radiation safety training may be insufficient to guarantee effective interdepartmental collaboration. To establish a sustainable safety culture, healthcare organizations must move beyond didactic education toward systemic solutions, including standardized protocols, clear role definitions, and resource-integrated workflows.