Background: Public awareness and knowledge of radiation sources are crucial for protecting individuals and the environment from harmful exposure. This understanding enables health officials to make informed medical decisions and minimize risks associated with everyday radiation. It also facilitates the creation and enforcement of regulations to control radiation exposure.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 120 citizens of Zarand County in 2023. Three researcherdeveloped questionnaires, assessing awareness, attitude, and performance, were used in this study. The validity and reliability of these questionnaires were assessed using CVI, CVR, and Cronbach’s Alpha, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 (SPSS Inc./IBM, Chicago, IL, USA). The chisquare test was employed to examine relationships among the research variables.
Results: Around 73% of participants had medium to low knowledge of radiation sources. Only 28% showed a positive attitude towards domestic and environmental radiation, while 86% practiced good preventive and protective behaviors. Social networks and mobile platforms were the main sources of information on radioactivity. A significant correlation was found between participants’ awareness and education level (P = 0.01). However, no significant relationships were found between awareness, behaviors, or attitudes and the variables of age, gender, occupation, or socioeconomic status (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: This study reveals that over two-thirds of the population has a medium to low level of awareness and understanding of radiation sources. Despite this, their health behavior is high, reflecting their importance on health issues. It is recommended that authorities prioritize educational programs on radiation sources and protection strategies to improve public awareness.