Knowledge And Scope Of Local Anaesthetic Use Among Nigerian Dentists
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Abstract
Background: To ensure excellent pain management, many local anaesthetic agents (LAA) are available in dentistry. These agents have varying properties that bestow on them comparative advantages for various dental procedures and in patients with specific medical needs. Consequently, it is desirable for dentists to be duly informed of available LAA and use them appropriately in patient care.
This survey was designed to know if Nigerian dentists avail themselves of the variety of LAA available and determine their unmet LAA needs, if any.
Materials And Methods: An online survey with the aid of Google form was conducted. The web-link to the form was delivered through the email addresses of Nigerian dentists. Two reminder emails were sent at monthly intervals to improve response rate. Specific items assessed include awareness, knowledge, use, factors affecting pattern of use and unmet need of LAA.
Results: The response rate was 25.8%. Almost all surveyed dentists (98.2%) used LAA routinely in practice; but this was only lidocaine in 87.5% of the respondents. The near-exclusive use of lidocaine was because it was the only agent available to 93.6% of respondents. Dentists with higher education and longevity in practice were more likely to have used other agents. Fifty-four (47.4%) respondents have unmet anaesthetic agents needs. The agent most desired, for its long duration of action, but reportedly unavailable was bupivacaine.
Conclusion: Nigerian dentists predominantly use only lidocaine because of its availability. However, many of them expressed need for other LAA especially the long acting bupivacaine.
This survey was designed to know if Nigerian dentists avail themselves of the variety of LAA available and determine their unmet LAA needs, if any.
Materials And Methods: An online survey with the aid of Google form was conducted. The web-link to the form was delivered through the email addresses of Nigerian dentists. Two reminder emails were sent at monthly intervals to improve response rate. Specific items assessed include awareness, knowledge, use, factors affecting pattern of use and unmet need of LAA.
Results: The response rate was 25.8%. Almost all surveyed dentists (98.2%) used LAA routinely in practice; but this was only lidocaine in 87.5% of the respondents. The near-exclusive use of lidocaine was because it was the only agent available to 93.6% of respondents. Dentists with higher education and longevity in practice were more likely to have used other agents. Fifty-four (47.4%) respondents have unmet anaesthetic agents needs. The agent most desired, for its long duration of action, but reportedly unavailable was bupivacaine.
Conclusion: Nigerian dentists predominantly use only lidocaine because of its availability. However, many of them expressed need for other LAA especially the long acting bupivacaine.
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