Evaluation of the scope and practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery in Nigeria

Background: Oral and maxillofacial surgery is still evolving; with the scope of practice in Nigeria inadequately determined. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to ascertain the level of practice in various parts of the country vis-a-vis the global trend and factors influencing the scope in Nigeria. Design of the Study: Cross-sectional. Setting: The study was carried out at the University of Ibadan. Participants included all the maxillofacial surgeons on the mailing list of the Nigerian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and Practicing in Nigeria as at December; 2012. Materials and Methods: Structured questionnaires were delivered to all on the mailing list of the Nigerian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Respondents were asked to provide information about their demographics; years of practice; areas of practice and factors influencing the choice of practice among others. Nonresponders were reminded a month after initial contact. Data were entered into a personal computer and variables analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis. Results: Thirty-two (56) of the 57 questionnaires were returned. Most respondents were aged 41-45 years ( n = 11; 34.4). Twenty-six (81.3) were males; whereas 6 (18.8) were females. Twenty respondents (62.5) practiced in the teaching hospitals. Eighteen respondents (56.3) practiced in the south-west geopolitical region. Twelve respondents (37.5) were the only maxillofacial surgeons in their centers. 81.3 routinely practiced traumatology against 15.6 for implantology. Seventy-eight percent ( n = 25) had satisfactory facilities for traumatology; dentoalveolar surgery; and cleft repair surgery; while facilities were least satisfactory in implantology and orthognathic surgery (15.6 and 12.5; respectively). The highest single factor influencing choice/area of practice was financial reward (100 of respondents). Fifty percent ( n = 16) claimed not to have had adequate training in their area of interest. Most respondents (93.8) believe the greatest challenge facing oncological maxillofacial surgery in Nigeria was late presentation of patients. Conclusion: The scope of practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery is largely limited in the country relative to what obtains globally

Self-medication profile of dental patients in Ondo state, Nigeria

The practice of selfmedication has been extensively researched but there is dearth of information about its modality among dental patients in developing countries. Hence; this study was designed to determine the proportion of dental patients who practice; medications employed and the reasons for resorting to self medication in general dental populations in Ondo State; Nigeria and tomake appropriate recommendations. This study was conducted between June 2007 and June 2008 at the Federal Medical Centre; Owo and State Specialist Hospital; Akure; Ondo State; Nigeria. Five hundred and thirty six consenting respondents were selected by multistage sampling technique and interviewed with the aid of semi structured questionnaire. Results: Almost half of the respondents (42or n=225) admitted to self medication while the majority (58) did not practice it. Drugs utilized are usually singly (56.4) rather than in combination (43.6); commonly analgesics (50.1) and antibiotics (30.4); with themajority (45.8) using the medications for at least one week. The reasons cited by respondents for self medication were their perception that they know what to do and it saves time andmoney. A sizable majority of the respondents admitted to self-medication usually with analgesics. Adequate health education of the populace on the use and misuse of analgesics needs to be mounted; while dental services should be made readily available and affordable so that self medication among dental patients can be reduced to the barest minimum