5 out of 10 People Worry About Medical Radiation... Disease Control Agency Says Radiation Devices Are Well Managed

Five out of ten people in South Korea believe that medical radiation examinations could potentially cause health problems in the future. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) stated on the 27th, “Radiation devices are systematically managed by government agencies during examinations,” and added, “We created promotional materials to reduce the public’s vague anxiety about medical radiation and to spread accurate knowledge.”

According to a survey conducted by the KDCA from April last year to February this year, targeting 3,000 people aged 18 to 69 nationwide, 81.9% of respondents viewed medical radiation examinations as ‘helpful for diagnosing and treating diseases.’ 62.8% said that ‘the benefits gained from medical care outweigh the risks.’

However, about half of the respondents recognized the risks, with 47.6% answering that ‘radiation is fatal to the human body regardless of the amount,’ and 51.2% saying ‘it could cause problems later.’ The KDCA noted, “the level of knowledge about medical radiation ranged from 21.8% to 52.6% of respondents who either did not know or gave incorrect answers depending on the question,” and added, “these results showed little difference compared to the 2009 medical radiation awareness survey.” Ji Young-mi, head of the KDCA, emphasized, “It is necessary not only to prevent the misuse and overuse of medical radiation examinations but also to provide the public with accurate information to alleviate vague anxieties.”

Based on the results of the public perception survey on medical radiation examinations, the KDCA announced on the same day that it distributed promotional materials to medical organizations and public health centers to provide accurate information about medical radiation. The aim is to establish a foundation for creating a medical radiation environment where the public can use services with confidence. The promotional materials include content such as “Special medical equipment that can cause radiation exposure undergoes regular performance evaluations” and “Avoiding examinations due to fear of radiation may result in missing the optimal treatment period for serious diseases.”