Abstract
Background: Training dental practitioners on emergency preparedness and response is essential for the successful management of medical emergencies. Objectives: To assess the perceptions of dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia about their readiness to manage medical emergencies in the dental practices. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among dental practitioners working in 52 dental centers in Saudi Arabia. Questionnaires mainly gathered data on the measures taken by dental practitioners to prevent medical emergencies, BLS certification, availability of essential drugs and equipment, and perceptions of dental practitioners regarding the adequacy of their training for medical emergencies. Results: Of the total 270 participants, the majority reported that they take medical history (94%), perform visual inspection (90%), consult with patients’ physician when needed (89%), and modify treatment plan as necessary (94%). However, only 19% of them routinely take baseline vital signs for their patients and 52.6% have valid BLS certification. Only 29.6% and 16.3% of dental practitioners have reported that they have all essential drugs and equipment, respectively. Conclusion: The preventive measures for medical emergency appears to be deficient because most dental practitioners are not routinely taking baseline vital signs for their patients. This important issue is combined with shortage of BLS certification among dental practitioners and inadequate availability of all medical emergency drugs and equipment in dental practices.
Highlights
Life-threatening medical emergencies can and do occur in dental practices with considerable frequency [1, 2]
The preventive measures for medical emergency appears to be deficient because most dental practitioners are not routinely taking baseline vital signs for their patients
This important issue is combined with shortage of BLS certification among dental practitioners and inadequate availability of all medical emergency drugs and equipment in dental practices
Summary
Life-threatening medical emergencies can and do occur in dental practices with considerable frequency [1, 2]. International guidelines suggest that dentists should participate regularly in annual or bi-annual practical training on how to recognize and manage medical emergencies, including those that require Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the use of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) [8]. The requirement for the availability of medical emergency drugs and equipment in dental offices differs from country to country [9]. The European and UK Resuscitation Council recommends that immediate access to basic resuscitation drugs and equipment (emergency medications, bag-valve-mask device, oxygen tank, and suction tips) and an AED should be readily available for all dental practitioners in their dental practices [9, 10].The availability of an AED in dental practice is mandatory in New York, Mississippi, and Massachusetts in the United States [11]. Training dental practitioners on emergency preparedness and response is essential for the successful management of medical emergencies
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