Declining Willingness to Work Under Radiation Exposure: An 8-Year Follow-up Study of Healthcare Workers Near a Nuclear Power Plant

Introduction and Background: Healthcare facilities near nuclear power plants face potential staffing challenges during nuclear accidents due to radiation exposure risks. Four years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, in 2015, we surveyed hospital staff working 11km from a nuclear power plant. 90.8% of respondents indicated willingness to work within national radiation dose limits, and 36.4% were willing to work under conditions reaching 100 mSv cumulative exposure. We conducted a follow-up survey at the same hospital eight years later. Methods: In January 2024, we surveyed staff at a hospital near a nuclear plant regarding their willingness to work under three cumulative radiation exposure levels: 1 mSv, the standard dose limit for radiation workers in Japan, and 100 mSv. The standard annual dose limit for male radiation workers is 50 mSv, while it is 5 mSv per three months for female workers. Respondents indicated whether they were willing, unwilling, or uncertain about working under each exposure level. Results: The survey had a response rate of 90.2% (358 out of 397). Among respondents, 46.4% (n=166) were willing to work under 1 mSv exposure, 38.5% (n=138) under 50 mSv, and 28.5% (n=102) under 100 mSv. Compared to 2015, Chi-square tests indicated significantly lower acceptance rates across all exposure levels (χ²=187.4, p<0.001). Conclusion: Hospital staff near nuclear power plants are essential for patient care and evacuation during nuclear incidents. However, many staff members expressed reluctance to work, even at low exposure levels (1 mSv). Enhancing staff preparedness requires improved risk communication and organizational measures to protect staff from radiation exposure, ensuring an effective response in future nuclear disaster scenarios.