Download PDF
CC BY 4.0 · European Journal of General Dentistry 2022; 11(02): 102-107
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1742644
Original Article

Experience and Preparedness of Medical Emergency among Dentists of Private Dental Teaching Hospitals of Lahore

Khaloud Tariq
1   Department of Preventive and Dental Public Health, University College of Dentistry, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
,
Mehrin Wajahat
2   Department of Dental Materials, Avicenna Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan
,
Muhammad Hassan
3   Department of Dental Materials, University College of Dentistry, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
,
Aqsa Arif
3   Department of Dental Materials, University College of Dentistry, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
› Author Affiliations Funding The authors did not receive any grant for this study.
› Further Information
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Objective Handling medical emergency in a dental clinic requires skill and specialized equipment, without which a patient's life can be in jeopardy. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of medical emergencies in dental teaching hospitals and assess the preparedness of dental professionals with regard to the handling of emergency and the equipment available for that.

Materials and Methods This is a cross-sectional study employing nonprobability sampling. Data were collected from dental surgeons working in clinical specialties of five dental teaching hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. A validated questionnaire was adopted from another study evaluating emergency prevalence and preparedness. Chi square test was used to assess significant associations among categorical variables while independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used to compare mean values among different groups.

Results Prevalence of medical emergencies encountered was 7.9%. About 45% of emergency events occurred during treatment. Hypoglycemia was reported to be the most encountered medical emergency, 83 (37%). Equipment that were available in most departments were stethoscope (81.8%), sphygmomanometer (79.7%), and oxygen cylinder (74.0%). Medications that were readily present were epinephrine (88.1%), glucose (83.2%), and aspirin (76.2%). Seventy-six (53.1%) respondents were not very well prepared to manage a presenting emergency. Twenty-two (85.3%) respondents suggested hands-on courses to improve their skills. About 56 (39.2%) respondents revealed that their departments were not well equipped to handle medical emergencies.

Conclusion Most dentists will get to experience an emergency event during their practice for which they may be underprepared and lack appropriate skill and certainty in management. It also portrays serious lack of preparedness in the supporting staff as well as clinics being deficient in important emergency medication and equipment.

Keywords

dentistry - emergencies - hospitals - teaching

Disclaimer

Manuscript has been read and approved by all authors. The dataset used in the current study is available on request from Dr. Khaloud Tariq at khaloud.tariq@ucd.uol.edu.




Publication History

Article published online:
15 February 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Fatima D, Wahengbam P, Verma S. et al. A brief review in dental management of medically compromised patients. IP Annals of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry 2021; 7 (01) 5-11
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Obata K, Naito H, Yakushiji H. et al. Incidence and characteristics of medical emergencies related to dental treatment: a retrospective single-center study. Acute Med Surg 2021; 8 (01) e651
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Sorenson AD, Marusko RM, Kennedy KS. Medical emergencies in the dental school setting. J Dent Educ 2021; 85 (07) 1223-1227
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Chaudhary PK, Patthi B, Singla A, Malhi RK, Khan A, Goel D. Role of dental professionals in disaster management: a review. Int J Drug Res Dent Sci 2021; 3 (02) 129-141
    Google Scholar
  • 5 Manton JW, Kennedy KS, Lipps JA, Pfeil SA, Cornelius BW. Medical Emergency Management in the Dental Office (MEMDO): a pilot study assessing a simulation-based training curriculum for dentists. Anesth Prog 2021; 68 (02) 76-84
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Rosenberg M. Preparing for medical emergencies: the essential drugs and equipment for the dental office. J Am Dent Assoc 2010; 141 (Suppl. 01) 14S-19S
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Al-Turki O, Al-Hussyeen A, Al-Hammad N, Alhowaish L, Almaflehi N. Medical emergencies in dental practice. IOSR J Dent Med Sci 2017; 16: 1-9
    Google Scholar
  • 8 Arsati F, Montalli VÂ, Flório FM. et al. Brazilian dentists' attitudes about medical emergencies during dental treatment. J Dent Educ 2010; 74 (06) 661-666
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Anders PL, Comeau RL, Hatton M, Neiders ME. The nature and frequency of medical emergencies among patients in a dental school setting. J Dent Educ 2010; 74 (04) 392-396
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Atherton GJ, McCaul JA, Williams SA. Medical emergencies in general dental practice in Great Britain. Part 1: Their prevalence over a 10-year period. Br Dent J 1999; 186 (02) 72-79
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Smereka J, Aluchna M, Aluchna A, Szarpak Ł. Preparedness and attitudes towards medical emergencies in the dental office among Polish dentists. Int Dent J 2019; 69 (04) 321-328
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 de Bedout T, Kramer K, Blanchard S. et al. Assessing the medical emergency preparedness of dental faculty, residents, and practicing periodontists: an exploratory study. J Dent Educ 2018; 82 (05) 492-500
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Alhamad M, Alnahwi T, Alshayeb H. et al. Medical emergencies encountered in dental clinics: a study from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. J Family Community Med 2015; 22 (03) 175-179
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Girdler NM, Smith DG. Prevalence of emergency events in British dental practice and emergency management skills of British dentists. Resuscitation 1999; 41 (02) 159-167
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Jodalli PS, Ankola AV. Evaluation of knowledge, experience and perceptions about medical emergencies amongst dental graduates (Interns) of Belgaum City, India. J Clin Exp Dent 2012; 4 (01) e14-e18
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Al-Hassan M, AlQahtani S. Preparedness of dental clinics for medical emergencies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Dent J 2019; 31 (01) 115-121
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Chapman PJ. Medical emergencies in dental practice and choice of emergency drugs and equipment: a survey of Australian dentists. Aust Dent J 1997; 42 (02) 103-108
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar