ABSTRACT
Objective: The growing global public health concern of workplace assaults has necessitated that workers' health and safety be given same priority as patient's safety. The study assessed the prevalence of workplace assault and its' impact on service delivery among dental professionals at tertiary hospitals in Northern Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 60 dental professionals working in tertiary hospitals actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate trainings for dental workforce in Northern Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used in selection of respondents and participation was voluntary. Data was collected using structured self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0 and p-value ⤠0.05 was considered statistically significant. Ethical approval was received. Results: Sixty percent dentists and 40.0% dental auxiliaries participated in the study. Assault prevalence was 38.3% observed more among dental professionals (44.0%) in their first year in practice. Types of assaults experienced were; non-physical 19 (82.6%) with loud shouting and threats as most frequent, physical 3 (13.0%) with bullying and mobbing most frequent, and combination was 1 (4.4%). Patients (60.9%) and relatives (52.2%) were major culprits, and long appointment (65.2%) and treatment cost (60.9%) were main reasons for assault. Respondents (39.1%) expressed impact on their productivity and 69.6% respondents were ill-prepared to handle it. Conclusion: The prevalence of workplace assaults on dental professionals was fairly high and those in their first year in practice suffer more assault than others. Assault preventive programs should however specifically target this group in consideration with the unique nature and varied needs of each healthcare institutions
Subject(s)
Dental Auxiliaries , Dental Health Services , Nigeria , Tertiary Care Centers , WorkplaceABSTRACT
Background: Chronic inflammatory and reactive lesions are tumorlike hyperplasia that are produced in association with chronic local irritation or trauma. These proliferations are painless pedunculated or sessile masses in different colors, from light pink to red. The surface appearance is variable from nonulcerated smooth to ulcerated growth, and they from a few millimeters to several centimeters in size. Common examples in the oral cavity include pyogenic granuloma (PG), epulis, traditional clinical name for gingival reactive proliferations, Irritation fibroma, epulis fissuratum, and giant cell granulomas which could either be of peripheral or central origin.Objective: To describe the pattern of inflammatory and reactive lesions of orofacial region. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of patients attending the oral and maxillofacial clinic between January 2006 and December 2014 was undertaken. Results: One hundred and twelve patients, comprising 61 (54.5%) males and 51 (45.5%) females were seen over the period of study. Their age ranged from 1 to 80 years with a median age of 26.5 years. PG was the most frequently reported lesion accounting for 32 (28.6%). This was followed by nonspecific chronic inflammation (n = 23; 20.5%), epulis/peripheral giant cell granuloma (n = 13; 11.6%), granulation tissue (n = 10; 8.9%), and central giant cell granuloma, (n = 8; 7.1%). Conclusion: The results of the study show that inflammatory and reactive lesions are common in the study population