ABSTRACT
Introduction In most healthcare models, the first interaction of a patient is with a general physician. The inspection of the oral cavity is a mandatory component of the general physical examination performed by a physician. This helps detect any oral pathology and make suitable referrals. Therefore, adequate oral health awareness is essential for physicians. Our study aimed at evaluating the oral health practices among physicians working in a private teaching setup in Islamabad, Pakistan. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 144 physicians teaching undergraduate medical students at Shifa College of Medicine and its affiliated hospital, Shifa International Hospital, was conducted. Participants were interviewed through a self-designed questionnaire. Later, each participant demonstrated their teeth brushing technique on a standard model of the oral cavity, which was assessed against a checklist conforming to the modified bass technique. A video clip showing the aforementioned brushing technique was shown at the end of the interview. The collected data was analyzed on IBM's statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 21. Results Toothpaste was the top choice (97.2%) of teeth cleaning tool with 69% participants brushing their teeth two times a day and 56.9% using toothbrushes with bristles of medium texture. The use of mouthwash (32.6%) and dental floss (11.1%) was considerably low. Dental caries and teeth discoloration were seen in 46.5% and 43.8% physicians, respectively. An alarmingly low number of physicians (31.9%) claimed to have read guidelines regarding oral health. This translated into most participants (78.5%) visiting a dentist only when needed. Only 4.9% participants performed all components of the modified bass technique to clean teeth on the oral cavity model, with up to 22.9% unable to perform a single step accurately. Conclusion The oral health knowledge and practices of physicians were found to be suboptimal and necessitate the integration of oral health awareness in the medical curriculum. A multiprofessional approach with physicians in crucial roles is required to address the burden of dental diseases globally.
ABSTRACT
Objectives Oral health is essential for general health and quality of life. It is a state of being free from mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral infections and sores, periodontal disease, tooth decay, tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that limit an individual's capacity to bite, chew, smile, and speak; it affects psychosocial well-being too. The objective of our study was to assess teeth cleaning techniques and oral hygiene practices among medical students. Methods The data of the study were collected in two stages. The first stage involved the administration of a self-constructed questionnaire among medical students. In the second step, the students were asked to demonstrate their teeth cleaning techniques on a model. A standard teeth cleaning checklist was used to evaluate the students. The students were then given the checklist and a video on teeth cleaning techniques was shown to them. The data obtained was analyzed on IBM's statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 21. Results Out of a total of 444 students, 256 (57.7 percent) were males while 188 (42.3 percent) were females. About 254 (57.2 percent) participants were preclinical medical students while 190 (42.8 percent) were clinical year medical students. A majority of medical students used medium consistency toothbrushes (177; 39.9 percent) and soft consistency toothbrushes (137; 30.9 percent). Most medical students (248; 55.9 percent) brushed two times a day while 163 (36.7 percent) brushed only one time. About 212 (47.7 percent) of the medical students used mouthwash along with a toothbrush while only 36 (8.1 percent) used floss along with a toothbrush. About 157 participants (35.4 percent) changed their toothbrush once in two months while 132 (26.7 percent) changed their toothbrush once in three months. The mean duration that participants brushed their teeth was 134.99 ± 69.01 seconds. Conclusion Medical students were found to have a faulty teeth cleaning technique. There is a dire need to spread awareness about correct teeth cleaning techniques because poor oral hygiene can have a detrimental effect on the overall health and quality of life of an individual.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: We sought to demonstrate that a well-staffed, surgeon-directed, critical care ultrasound program (CCUP) is financially sustainable and provides administrative and educational support for point-of-care ultrasound. METHODS: The CCUP provides a clinical service and training as well as conducts research. Initial costs, annual costs (C), revenue (R), and savings (S) were prospectively recorded. Using data from the first 3 years, we calculated the projected C, R, and S at 5 years. We determined CCUP sustainability by C < R and C < R + S at 3 years and 5 years. RESULTS: During 36 months, the CCUP covered four surgical intensive care units (55 beds). Start-up costs included one basic and one cardiovascular device per 25 beds and a data storage system linking reports and images to the electronic medical record ($203,650). Billing increased threefold from Years 1 to 3, with a 21% increase between Years 2 to 3. Yearly costs included 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) sonographer and 0.2 FTE surgeon ($106,025); this was increased to 1 FTE and 0.25 FTE, respectively, for Years 4 and 5. The total 3-year cost was $521,725 and projected to be $863,325 by Year 5. The total 3-year revenue was $290,775 and projected to be $891,600 at 5 years. The total 3-year savings associated with the CCUP was $600,035 and is projected to be $1,194,220. With the use of the C < R, the CCUP meets operating expenses at Year 3 and covers overall cost at 5 years. If savings are included, then the CCUP is sustainable by its third year and is potentially profitable by Year 5. CONCLUSION: A surgeon-directed CCUP is financially sustainable, addresses administrative issues, and provides valuable training in point-of-care ultrasound.
