Analysis of clinical records of dental patients attending Jordan University Hospital: Documentation of drug prescriptions and local anesthetic injections

Najla Dar-Odeh1, Soukaina Ryalat1, Mohammad Shayyab1, Osama Abu-Hammad21Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Oral Medicine and Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Jordan; 2Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jordan, JordanObjectives: The aim of this study was to analyze clinical records of dental patients attending the Dental Department at the University of Jordan Hospital: a teaching hospital in Jordan. Analysis aimed at determining whether dental specialists properly documented the drug prescriptions and local anesthetic injections given to their patients.Methods: Dental records of the Dental Department at the Jordan University Hospital were reviewed during the period from April 3rd until April 26th 2007 along with the issued prescriptions during that period.Results: A total of 1000 records were reviewed with a total of 53 prescriptions issued during that period. Thirty records documented the prescription by stating the category of the prescribed drug. Only 13 records stated the generic or the trade names of the prescribed drugs. Of these, 5 records contained the full elements of a prescription. As for local anesthetic injections, the term “LA used” was found in 22 records while the names and quantities of the local anesthetics used were documented in only 13 records. Only 5 records documented the full elements of a local anesthetic injection.Conclusion: The essential data of drug prescriptions and local anesthetic injections were poorly documented by the investigated group of dental specialists. It is recommended that the administration of the hospital and the dental department implement clear and firm guidelines for dental practitioners in particular to do the required documentation procedure.Keywords: dental records, documentation, prescriptions, local anesthesi

Herbal anti-edematous agents for certain cases of facial cellulitis of odontogenic origin. Clinical recommendation.

Literature from different parts of the world reported that antibiotic abuse is evident in dental practice. One aspect of this abuse is prescribing antibiotics for non-indicated orofacial infections. The use of some herbal anti-edematous agents has been recommended for reducing post-operative swelling/edema in certain oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures. In this review we describe the possible benefits of using these agents for certain cases of facial cellulitis in order to reduce the number of antibiotic prescriptions for this particular clinical situation

The role of antifungal drugs in the management of denture-associated stomatitis

Background: Denture-associated stomatitis is a chronic infection of the oral cavitythat may be associated with a number of bacterial and candidal organisms aswell as some predisposing factors. Its management may prove to be difficult if thetreatment plan was not comprehensive in addressing all the factors involved in itsetiology. The aim of this review is to underline the effectiveness of antifungal drugsin the management of denture-associated stomatitis according to our personalexperience and the recently published literature.Methods: Articles were obtained from pubmed as well as by a hand search.Denture stomatitis and antifungal were used as keywords. Only articles writtenin English and which were published starting from the year 1990 were included.Conclusions: Antifungal drugs certainly have a place in the management ofdenture-associated stomatitis. However, their use should be called upon after thecontrol of factors known to cause this infection. Denture and oral hygiene, andmanagement of adverse medical conditions should be the primary goal of treatment.This should go hand in hand with the application of topical antifungal agentsparticularly those in the cream or gel form for better patients’ compliance

Impact Of COVID-19 Pandemic On The Pattern Of Azithromycin Prescribing; A Review

Objective: Emergence of COVID-19 infection and its persistence globally for three years in a row (2020-2022) entailed several modifications in healthcare services, among which drug prescribing was an important outcome. This review aims to highlight changing trends in azithromycin prescribing during pandemic years. Methods: PubMed database was systematically searched for combinations of the following keywords: Antibiotics; Antimicrobial resistance; Azithromycin; COVID-19. Results: A total of 12 articles were included in this review. All included studies demonstrated a notable increase in azithromycin consumption during COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, Brazil, USA, India, Croatia, and Jordan. Healthcare systems worldwide should be prepared to address anticipated outcomes of increased azithromycin use particularly possible changing trends in azithromycin resistance, and systemic side effects of the drug

Prescribing Antibiotics for pediatric dental patients in Jordan; knowledge and attitudes of dentists

Objective: The inappropriate use of antibiotic in treating children has been observedin the treatment of dental infections. Recent surveys reported that dentistsin several countries have modest knowledge about antibiotic prescribing. The aimof this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitude of a group of Jordaniandentists treating children towards antibiotic prescribing.Methods: A written questionnaire was distributed during a meeting of the JordanianSociety of Paediatric Dentistry. The questionnaire included questions aboutthe knowledge and attitudes of dentists toward dental antibiotic prescribing tochildren.Results: Amoxicillin was the most popular antibiotic (62.9%) to be prescribed bydentists treating children. A lesser percentage (29.7%) prescribe combination ofantibiotics, and around 37% prescribe antibiotics for duration longer than 5 days.Erythromycin was the most popular alternative to amoxicillin (77.8%) followed byclindamycin (22.2%). A number of antibiotics were prescribed for non-indicatedclinical conditions like pulpitis and gingivitis. More than 50% of the sample prescribedantibiotics for non-scientific reasons like the “need to delay treatment†and“sterilization not guaranteedâ€.Conclusion: There is a need to improve awareness of Jordanian dentists regardingantibiotic prescribing to children particularly in the aspects of type of antibiotic tobe used for patients allergic and non-allergic to penicillin, duration of prescribing,and clinical indications. Dentists also should be discouraged to prescribe antibioticsbased on non-scientific/social factors

Tobacco Smoking, Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Cessation Perceptions by Dental Students in Al Madinah, a Conservative Saudi Society

Objective: To explore the prevalence of tobacco use and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in dental students and to investigate their perceptions on the role of dentists in tobacco cessation activities. Material and Methods:  A questionnaire-based study was conducted in a public university in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire investigated demographic factors, tobacco use practices, SHS exposure, and student perceptions of tobacco cessation activities. Descriptive statistics and statistical significance of differences between demographic groups were calculated. Results: A total of 228 students participated with 43.0% (n=98) males and 57.0% (n=130) females. A proportion of 30.7% (n=70) of the participants smoked tobacco, and these constituted 51 males (73%) and 19 females (27%). Only 39 students (15 females and 24 males) indicated their method of tobacco use, which was mainly cigarettes and waterpipes. One in two students was exposed to SHS. Non-smokers had better awareness of the health hazards of SHS (p<0.001), and were more likely to adopt tobacco cessation activities recommended by dentists (p<0.05). Conclusion:  A substantial proportion of dental students in a very conservative religious area smoke tobacco and are exposed to SHS. Their perceptions of the harms of SHS and attitudes on cessation need improvement. The influence of culture and religion in shaping health risk behaviors in conservative communities needs to be verified

Oral Healthcare Services Delivered During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Report from Eastern Mediterranean Region

Objective: To describe oral healthcare services administered during the lockdown in the Eastern Mediterranean region and to investigate the role of socio-professional characteristics of dental practitioners or their self-reported COVID-19 infection. Material and Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to dental practitioners in all healthcare sectors in Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Results: There was a total of 335 participants, with the majority being females (N=225, 67.2%) and general practitioners (N=202, 60.3%). Cellulitis was the most common emergency encountered (N=108). The most common urgent procedures were for pulpitis, abscesses, and pericoronitis (N=191, 130, and 95, respectively). Country-specific significant associations were pulpitis in Egypt and Jordan, broken symptomatic teeth in Jordan, and biopsy in Egypt (p<0.05). The Ministry of Health was significantly associated with the management of dental infections, avulsion, and orthodontic emergencies, while university hospitals were significantly associated with advanced restorative procedures (p<0.05). Male practitioners performed significantly more procedures, particularly surgical emergencies (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dental infections were the most common complaints among dental patients during lockdown. Country- and sector-specific dental procedures are detected. Male gender seems to play a determinant role in performing a higher number of procedures, particularly for surgical emergencies

Narghile (water pipe) smoking among university students in Jordan: prevalence, pattern and beliefs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background and objectives</p> <p>Narghile is becoming the favorite form of tobacco use by youth globally. This problem has received more attention in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and pattern of narghile use among students in three public Jordanian universities; to assess their beliefs about narghile's adverse health consequences; and to evaluate their awareness of oral health and oral hygiene.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was a cross-sectional survey of university students. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed randomly to university students in three public Jordanian universities during December, 2008. The questionnaire was designed to ask specific questions that are related to smoking in general, and to narghile smoking in specific. There were also questions about oral health awareness and oral hygiene practices.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>36.8% of the surveyed sample indicated they were smokers comprising 61.9% of the male students and 10.7% of the female students in the study sample. Cigarettes and narghile were the preferred smoking methods among male students (42%). On the other hand, female students preferred narghile only (53%). Parental smoking status but not their educational level was associated with the students smoking status. Smokers had also significantly poor dental attendance and poor oral hygiene habits.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study confirmed the spreading narghile epidemic among young people in Jordan like the neighboring countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region. Alarming signs were the poor oral health awareness among students particularly smokers.</p