Original Article
Year : 2020 | Volume : 5 | Issue : 1 | Page : 6 - 10
Status of Dentist Handling Medical Emergencies in Clinical Set‐Up – A Survey
M. Halith Ahamed, Vidhya1
Graduate, 1 Reader, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Address for correspondence:
Dr. M. Halith Ahamed,Graduate, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, Porur, Chennai 600 116, Tamil Nadu, India
E-mail: m.ahamed1997@gmail.com
Abstract
Introduction:
An increasing number of elderly and medically compromised patients are being treated in the dental clinic. The management of medically compromised patients by the dental practitioner might require modifications in oral health care. The purpose of this study is to assess the status of dentist handling medical emergencies in clinical set-up. And about the awareness of basic life support (BLS), commonly occurring medical emergencies at dental office and availability of the emergency kit and drugs at dental office. Materials and
Methods:
A survey had been conducted among 100 dentists to assess the status of dentist handling medical emergencies in clinical set-up. The questionnaire survey includes 12 questions. The data were statistically analyzed and represented with bar graph diagram.
Results:
In our study, the survey has shown that 89% dentists were aware of BLS. Eighty‐five percent of them were trained in cardio pulmonary resuscitation, 13% were trained in recognition of emergencies and 2% of them were trained in emergency drug usage. Forty‐five of them were updating emergency training yearly. Ninety percent of them said syncope is the condition occurs most commonly in dental clinic, 6% of them said epilepsy, and 4% of them said bleeding episode. Eighty‐two percentage dentists have the availability of the basic emergency kit at dental office. The availability of oxygen cylinders is higher than the automated external defibrillators in dental office. Sixty‐two percent of them were able to give an intravenous injection.
Conclusion:
Medical emergencies occur in dental hospital practice more frequently but in similar proportions to that found in general dental practice. There is a perceived need for further training among dental hospital staff in the management of medical emergencies.
Keywords: Assessment, dentist, intravenous, medical emergency, oxygen cylinder, syncope
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
How to cite this article:
Ahamed MH, Vidhya. Status of dentist handling medical emergencies in the clinical set-up – A survey. Int J Soc Rehab 2020;5:6-10.
