Knowledge and Attitudes towards Medical Emergencies among Dentists in Iași, Romania

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge of resident dentists and new graduates regarding the etiology, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of the main medical emergency conditions. The study included a sample of 152 new graduates and residents in the first, second, and third year of training in Prosthodontics and General Dentistry from the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Iasi, Romania. Their level of knowledge and the attitudes were assessed using a questionnaire with 24 questions, divided into four sections. The differences among groups were identified using the chi-square test (p < 0.05). A high level of knowledge was found among the three groups of subjects for the questions regarding the recognition of clinical signs in hypoglycemic crisis (88–100%), in anaphylactic shock (83.3–94.5%), and the treatment of angina pectoris (76.2–84.2%). In contrast, a low level of knowledge was found for the questions regarding pulse evaluation in the case of an emergency (26.3–35.7%), the parameters of normal breathing (28.9–43%), and the treatment of hypoglycemic crisis (27.8–44.8%). The study indicated that the dentists had a moderate understanding of dental office medical emergencies and preferred practical training over theoretical courses.

Keywords

• medical emergencies
• knowledge
• attitudes
• dentists