Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Ultrasound tends to produce biological effects on body tissues. Therefore, the application of ultrasound safety rules is needed in all ultrasound examinations to avoid bioeffects that may occur because of a high thermal index (TI) and mechanical index (MI). This study aimed to explore the Saudi sonographers\' awareness of ultrasound safety and bioeffects.
METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, and the data was collected using an online survey google forms questionnaire disseminated through social media (Telegram, WhatsApp, and Twitter) as an electronic link. A total of 70 participants responded to the survey directly, and then, the data was analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science).
RESULTS: Regarding the awareness of TI and MI, 64.3% of the participants were aware of TI and 65.7% of MI as safety ultrasound indices; moreover, 74.3% of the participants were aware of the ALARA principle \"As Low as Reasonably Achievable.\" Participants\' knowledge concerning more heat production in pulsed Doppler ultrasound modes was poor (31.5%). Most of the sonographers, i.e., 77.1% were aware of the relationship between the risk of activation and MI, and 58.6% of the participants were acquainted with the current FDA output limits. In comparison, 58.6% of the participants were aware of the bioeffects of ultrasound contrast agents. There was no significant correlation between the educational level and the degree of awareness of ultrasound bioeffects and safety (P-value> 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was found that sonographers were aware of the theoretical principles of ultrasound safety indices and the ALARA principle, although they had poor knowledge of ultrasound bioeffects in Doppler mode.
METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, and the data was collected using an online survey google forms questionnaire disseminated through social media (Telegram, WhatsApp, and Twitter) as an electronic link. A total of 70 participants responded to the survey directly, and then, the data was analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science).
RESULTS: Regarding the awareness of TI and MI, 64.3% of the participants were aware of TI and 65.7% of MI as safety ultrasound indices; moreover, 74.3% of the participants were aware of the ALARA principle \"As Low as Reasonably Achievable.\" Participants\' knowledge concerning more heat production in pulsed Doppler ultrasound modes was poor (31.5%). Most of the sonographers, i.e., 77.1% were aware of the relationship between the risk of activation and MI, and 58.6% of the participants were acquainted with the current FDA output limits. In comparison, 58.6% of the participants were aware of the bioeffects of ultrasound contrast agents. There was no significant correlation between the educational level and the degree of awareness of ultrasound bioeffects and safety (P-value> 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was found that sonographers were aware of the theoretical principles of ultrasound safety indices and the ALARA principle, although they had poor knowledge of ultrasound bioeffects in Doppler mode.
摘要：
背景：超声倾向于对身体组织产生生物学效应。因此,在所有超声检查中都需要应用超声安全规则,以避免由于高热指数(TI)和机械指数(MI)而可能发生的生物效应.本研究旨在探索沙特超声医师对超声安全性和生物效应的认识。
方法：进行了描述性横断面研究，数据是使用通过社交媒体传播的在线调查谷歌表格问卷收集的(Telegram，WhatsApp,和Twitter)作为电子链接。共有70名参与者直接回答了调查，然后,数据采用SPSS(社会科学统计软件包)进行分析.
结果：关于TI和MI的认识，64.3%的参与者知道TI和65.7%的MI是安全超声指标；此外，74.3%的参与者意识到ALARA原则“低至合理实现”。“参与者对脉冲多普勒超声模式下更多产热的了解不足（31.5％）。大多数的声波学家,即，77.1％的人知道激活风险与MI之间的关系，58.6%的参与者熟悉当前的FDA输出限值.相比之下,58.6%的参与者知道超声造影剂的生物效应。受教育程度与超声生物效应认知程度及安全性无显著相关性(P值>0.05)。
结论：在这项研究中，发现超声医师了解超声安全指数的理论原理和ALARA原理，尽管他们对多普勒模式下的超声生物效应知之甚少。
方法：进行了描述性横断面研究，数据是使用通过社交媒体传播的在线调查谷歌表格问卷收集的(Telegram，WhatsApp,和Twitter)作为电子链接。共有70名参与者直接回答了调查，然后,数据采用SPSS(社会科学统计软件包)进行分析.
结果：关于TI和MI的认识，64.3%的参与者知道TI和65.7%的MI是安全超声指标；此外，74.3%的参与者意识到ALARA原则“低至合理实现”。“参与者对脉冲多普勒超声模式下更多产热的了解不足（31.5％）。大多数的声波学家,即，77.1％的人知道激活风险与MI之间的关系，58.6%的参与者熟悉当前的FDA输出限值.相比之下,58.6%的参与者知道超声造影剂的生物效应。受教育程度与超声生物效应认知程度及安全性无显著相关性(P值>0.05)。
结论：在这项研究中，发现超声医师了解超声安全指数的理论原理和ALARA原理，尽管他们对多普勒模式下的超声生物效应知之甚少。
