A Hybrid Approach to Identifying Factors Associated with Radiation Safety Knowledge among Healthcare Professionals

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Published: Aug 2, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24083/apjhm.v21i2.5365
Keywords:
Radiation safety knowledge, Healthcare professionals, Bayesian model averaging (BMA), Lasso Regression, Ridge regression

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Huy Nguyen
Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Ballarat Campus, VIC, Australia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5896-9661
Anh Thi Ngoc Tran
College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam
Thuan Van Huynh
Quang Nam General Central Hospital, Tam Hiep Commune, Nui Thanh District, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
Phuong The Nguyen
Research Center for Health Policy and Economics, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan
Phuong Mai Le
Department of International Trials, Center for Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Ha Thi Mai
Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, New South Wales, Australia
Bach Xuan Tran
Faculty of Public Health, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Long Quynh Khuong
Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hien Tri Ngo
Faculty of Public Health, Vinh Medical University, Nghe An province, Vietnam
Minh Duc Pham
Global Adolescent Health Group, Infection, Immunity and Global Health Theme, Murdock Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
An Thi Minh Dao
School of Dentistry, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1942-3009

Abstract

Objective: Radiation safety knowledge is fundamental to protecting both healthcare workers and patients. Yet, persistent knowledge gaps continue to compromise safe clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate radiation safety knowledge among healthcare professionals in central Vietnam and to identify key factors associated with higher competency.


Methodology: In this cross-sectional study, healthcare professionals from a national general hospital in central Vietnam were surveyed using a standardized instrument developed in accordance with national radiation safety guidelines endorsed by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Science and Technology. A hybrid analytical framework integrating Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA), Lasso, and Ridge regression was applied to identify independent predictors. Model robustness was further validated through standard regression and bootstrapping analyses.


Results: The overall radiation safety knowledge was suboptimal, with an average score of 35%. Knowledge of preventive measures was higher (69.3%), while awareness of radiation risks and radiographic room safety was notably limited. Key predictors of higher radiation safety knowledge included direct involvement with X-rays (β=16.85, P<0.001), higher educational attainment (β=15.72, P<0.001), older age (β=13.99, P <0.001), participation in radiation-related training courses (β=9.08, P<0.001), and access to multiple information resources (β=6.27, P<0.05). The hybrid statistical approach provided robust insights, with results consistent across different models. Both standard regression and bootstrapping analyses confirmed the stability of these findings.


Conclusions: This study highlights a significant gap in radiation safety knowledge among healthcare professionals in central Vietnam. Significant knowledge gaps underscore the need for targeted training, curriculum integration, and enhanced access to radiation safety resources at healthcare settings. The study also recommends the usage of hybrid statistical approaches in robust inference generation.

Article Details

How to Cite
Nguyen, H., Tran, A. T. N., Huynh, T. V., Nguyen, P. T., Le, P. M., Mai, H. T., Tran, B. X., Khuong, L. Q., Ngo, H. T., Pham, M. D., & Dao, A. T. M. . (2026). A Hybrid Approach to Identifying Factors Associated with Radiation Safety Knowledge among Healthcare Professionals . Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management. https://doi.org/10.24083/apjhm.v21i2.5365
Issue
Online First
Section
Research Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Huy Nguyen, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Ballarat Campus, VIC, Australia

1. Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Ballarat Campus, VIC 3350, Australia
2. Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
3. Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, USA

Anh Thi Ngoc Tran, College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam

Anh Thi Ngoc Tran (BPH, MPH) is currently based at the College of Health Sciences of VinUniversity in Hanoi, Vietnam. Her research focuses on epidemiology, health behaviors (particularly cancer-related), and health management and organization. She has authored a dozen papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Thuan Van Huynh, Quang Nam General Central Hospital, Tam Hiep Commune, Nui Thanh District, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam

Thuan Van Huynh (BN, MHM) is a nurse at Quang Nam General Central Hospital in Tam Hiep Commune, Nui Thanh District, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. He holds a Master’s degree in Hospital Management from Hanoi Medical University and currently serves in a senior role at the hospital.

Phuong The Nguyen, Research Center for Health Policy and Economics, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan

Dr. Phuong The Nguyen (MD, MPH, PhD) is affiliated with the Research Center for Health Policy and Economics at the Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, Japan. His research interests include modeling and prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases. He has published nearly 30 papers in high-impact journals, including The Lancet.

Phuong Mai Le, Department of International Trials, Center for Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

Phuong Mai Le (BPH, MPH) specializes in infectious disease epidemiology and HIV prevention. She has recently expanded her research to non-communicable diseases and has published dozens of articles in high-impact journals. 

Ha Thi Mai, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, New South Wales, Australia

Ha Thi Mai (BN, BPH, MPH) was trained in nursing at Western Sydney University, Australia. She has five years of research experience in cancer and epidemiology.

Bach Xuan Tran, Faculty of Public Health, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam

Dr. Bach Xuan Tran (BPH, MPH, PhD, Professor) is a health economist with a prolific research portfolio in health services, health systems, economic evaluations, e-health, and digital health. He has authored nearly 600 papers in high-impact journals, including The Lancet, and holds adjunct professorships at Hanoi Medical University and Johns Hopkins University.

Long Quynh Khuong, Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam

Dr. Long Quynh Khuong (MD, MSc, PhD) is a preventive medicine doctor and biostatistician at the Centre for Population Health Sciences, Hanoi University of Public Health, Vietnam. His research focuses on maternal and child health, substance abuse treatment, and applied statistics, with nearly 30 publications in high-impact journals

Hien Tri Ngo, Faculty of Public Health, Vinh Medical University, Nghe An province, Vietnam

Dr. Hiep Tri Ngo (MD, PhD) holds a leadership role at the Faculty of Public Health, Vinh Medical University, and is also a senior clinician at Vinh Hospital. He has authored over 20 papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Minh Duc Pham, Global Adolescent Health Group, Infection, Immunity and Global Health Theme, Murdock Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Dr. Minh Duc Pham (MD, MPH, PhD) has strong background in medicine and research, he has authored over 90 publications in high-impact journals. Current work at:

1. Global Adolescent Health Group, Infection, Immunity and Global Health Theme, Murdock Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
3. Department of Peadiatrics, Melbourne Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

An Thi Minh Dao, School of Dentistry, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia

Dr. An Thi Minh Dao (DDS, PhD) is trained in dentistry and epidemiology. She serves as an associate adjunct professor at the Department of Epidemiology, Hanoi Medical University, and at UMass Chan Medical School. She has published over 40 articles in high-impact journals.

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