ABSTRACT
Objectives: To evaluate the quality of root canal treatment using radiographic examination in a sample of Jordanian population
Methods: The study sample consisted of randomly selected patients referred to endodontic clinics, at Al-Hussien hospital. Clinical and radiographical [Orthopantomographs] examinations were performed to evaluate 139 patients. The periapical status of all teeth was examined. The quality of the root canal filling was rated as 'adequate' or 'inadequate'. Endodontically treated [with or without periapical radiolucency], existed, filled teeth [with or without root canal treatment] were recorded. The quality of endodontic treatment was correlated to age and gender, and its association with periapical radiolucency and tooth restoration was determined. Data were analyzed statistically using the Chi-square test and t-test. The quality of endodontic treatment was assessed using odd ratios in the chi square test in terms of adequacy in association with existed or absence of periapical radiolucency. Level of significance was set at 0.05
Results: Out of 3433 examined teeth, 8.3% were endodontically treated. Periapical radiolucency was associated with11.9% of teeth, of these 4.7% were related to endodontically treated teeth and 36.2% of filled teeth were endodontically treated. Females had significant more existed teeth [p 0.05] and more periapical radiolucency associated with non-endodontically treated teeth [p 0.01], however, males significantly had more periapical radiolucency with root canal treatment [p 0.05]. The prevalence of endodontically treated teeth increased with age, and it is significant in patients aged 40 years or more. The prevalence of periapical radiolucency increased with age. However, it was only significant in non-endodontically treated teeth [p 0.05], in patients aged 50 years and above. Significantly more endodontically treated teeth and periapical radiolucency in the maxilla than in the mandible [P<0.05]. Adequate endodontic treatment with periapical radiolucency was 30.1%, whereas inadequate root filling and periapical radiolucency was 69.9%. Approximately, 62% of endodontic treatment was significantly unsatisfactory [p=0.001]
Conclusions: 8.3% of examined teeth were endodontically-treated, of these, 40% were associated with periapical radiolucency. Only 48.8% of endodontic treatments were adequate and not associated with periapical radiolucency, however, 62% were unsatisfactory
ABSTRACT
To assess adherence, investigate reasons for non-adherence and describe tolerability of Mefloquine among Jordanian military personnel, who served in level II military hospital in Kinshasa for a six months period. In 2011, 56 male military personnel agreed to complete an anonymous questionnaire which checked the degree of adherence, reasons for non-adherence, and both the frequency and severity of Mefloquine side effects. Participants were also asked if they received counselling about malaria and Mefloquine prior to departure. All participants were interviewed face-to-face to further investigate their experiences with Mefloquine. The Mefloquine weekly dosage was dispensed from the pharmacy to the public health inspector every Tuesday and then to the participants after lunch on that day. Thirty six participants [64.4%] took all doses. Fourteen participants [25%] skipped some doses, mostly due to forgetting [50%]. Other reasons were travelling [14.2%], side effects [14.2%], acute disease [14.2%], and being careless [7.1%]. Number of skipped doses varied between one and five from the 29 doses given. One participant [1.8%] took no Mefloquine at all due to previous side effects of the drug. Five participants [8.9%] permanently stopped using Mefloquine, four due to side effects and one due carelessness. Thirty two [57.1%] participants complained of side effects, the most common being: nightmares [16.7%], insomnia [15%], headache [13.3%], anxiety [11.7%], and diarrhoea [9.2%]. Most of participants [93.8%] classified their side effects as being mild to moderate. Only 14 participants [25%] reported that they received counselling about malaria and Mefloquine. The high adherence rate in this study reflects the method of dispensing Mefloquine which was used. Reasons for non-adherence should always be investigated in order to find solutions that will further enhance adherence. Although more than half of participants reported at least one side effect, Mefloquine was tolerated by the majority of participants over the study period. Education about malaria and Mefloquine is essential for both health care professionals and users
ABSTRACT
This study assessed whether training physicians on the Practical Approach to Lung Health [PAL] reduces drug prescribing and the cost of drugs prescribed to respiratory patients in the primary health care setting. Data were compared before and after training general practitioners on standard guidelines for case management of respiratory conditions in primary care. A total of 56 general practitioners practising in 25 health centres in 3 out of 12 governorates of Jordan participated in both the baseline survey [n = 6260 respiratory patients] and the impact survey [n = 2709 patients]. Training in PAL decreased by 12.2% the number of drugs prescribed per patient, increased the prescription of inhaled medications and reduced the mean cost of a drug prescription per patient by 8.7%