Abstract

QWEN, CP  and  MIZRA, N. Medical emergencies in dental practices in South Africa. S. Afr. dent. j. [online]. 2015, vol.70, n.7, pp.300-303. ISSN 0375-1562.

PURPOSE: Studies carried out in many countries have shown that dentists were not confident in managing medical emergencies, and that some did not have any emergency drugs and equipment in their practice or had never had any form of practical training. No studies on the prevalence of medical emergencies for dental practices in South Africa have been published METHOD: An email survey was carried out. Sample size was calculated to be at least 239, and 267 respondents participated. The questionnaire comprised demographics; equipment and drugs possessed; number of medical emergencies experienced over a 12 month period; self-evaluation on specific medical procedures; and opinions on the need for training of dentists in managing medical emergencies RESULTS: The results in general agreed with those of similar surveys carried out in other countries, and gave rise to similar concerns, in that there are many practitioners who are clearly ill-equipped to deal with medical emergencies. Most respondents felt they required more formal training CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that medical emergency courses should be part of all undergraduate curricula; that medical emergency courses should be included as part of CPD accreditation requirements; and that as there is no South African list of recommended equipment and drugs, this should be developed and regularly revised, most suitably by the South African Dental Association

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