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. 2025 Mar 10;17(3):e80351.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.80351. eCollection 2025 Mar.

Assessment of Public Knowledge and Perceptions Toward Radiation Exposure Risks in Saudi Arabia: A Survey Study

Abdullah A Alburayh  1 , Mead Alosaimi  2 , Hend Alshumiesy  3 , Aghnar T Alzahrani  4 , Ali S Alkhars  1 , Delal M Doaib  5 , Mohammed H Alsaleh  6 , Abdullah Albakri  7 , Noora Abdulrahman Alrajhi  8 , Beshair Almansour  9 , Sumaeah Alghamdi  10 , Salem Hamad Aldosari  11 , Ayman S Alhasan  12
Affiliations

Assessment of Public Knowledge and Perceptions Toward Radiation Exposure Risks in Saudi Arabia: A Survey Study

Abdullah A Alburayh et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Introduction Radiation exposure poses potential health risks, yet public awareness regarding its sources, effects, and safety measures remains inconsistent. Understanding the level of knowledge and perceptions about radiation risks is essential for developing effective educational strategies. This study aimed to assess public knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward radiation exposure risks in Saudi Arabia, focusing on awareness of ionizing radiation sources, safety measures, and information-seeking behaviors. Materials and methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Saudi residents aged 18 years and above using an online questionnaire distributed through digital platforms. A convenience sampling method was used to recruit participants, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression models in SPSS version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). The study examined associations between demographic factors and levels of knowledge and perception regarding radiation exposure risks. Results Over two-thirds (67.6%) were unaware of natural sources of ionizing radiation, and 41.5% incorrectly believed that chest X-rays and CT scans deliver equal radiation doses. The most common imaging procedures experienced were simple X-rays (28.9%) and dental X-rays (25.7%). More than half (53.1%) reported concerns during radiological tests, and 58.3% believed these procedures pose health hazards. Receiving prior information on radiation risks strongly predicted higher awareness (p < 0.001), while males and married individuals were less likely to have positive perceptions (p < 0.05). Conclusion The study identified significant gaps in public knowledge and perception toward radiation exposure risks. Receiving information on the topic was a key predictor of increased awareness, while gender and marital status influenced perceptions, with males and married participants being less likely to hold positive views. These findings emphasize the need for targeted educational interventions and tailored communication strategies to address knowledge gaps, dispel misconceptions, change attitudes, and foster patient trust regarding radiation exposure risks and radiological procedures.

Keywords: kingdom of saudi arabia (ksa); pediatric radiation exposure; public knowledge; radiation; radiation protection measures; radiography.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. King Faisal University issued approval KFU-REC-2023-DEC-ETHICS1779. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Participants' rating of knowledge about radiation exposure risks according to their own perception.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Major sources through which the Saudi public receives information about radiation risks.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Evaluation of radiological procedures that participants have undergone during their lifetime or more than three times in their life.
CT: computed tomography; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; PET: positron emission tomography.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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