Halitosis (Fetor oris) in patients seen at the periodontology clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan - a subjective evaluation.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of halitosis among periodontal patients and to evaluate the association between this condition and increasing age, social class, gender and oral hygiene status. The subjects comprised two hundred and fifty five consecutive patients who attended the periodontology clinic of the University College Hospital from November 1996 and March 1997. The patients were matched for sex and their ages ranged from 16 years to 74 years and made up of 128 males and 127 females. Cases of halitosis were cross-validated by two examiners to rule out a biased diagnosis. One hundred and twenty eight patients were males while 127 were females. A total of 37 patients presented with halitosis representing 14.5% . There was no statistically significant difference in relation to gender, p > 0.05. In the different age groups, only 7% of the subjects in the 31 - 40 years age group had halitosis while 36% of the subjects in the over 60 years age group were affected, (chi(2) - 13.01, df = 5, p < 0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of halitosis according to oral hygiene status and social class. The results showed a low prevalence of halitosis as erroneously claimed but showed an association between the condition and increasing age, social class and oral hygiene status.

A survey of the medical and dental consultants' management skills in University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Good management/administration is vital in the realisation of any business objective whether in a private or public establishment. The aims of this study were to assess the level of knowledge and ability on management/administrative skills by Medical/Dental consultants as perceived by themselves; to stimulate more interest in management/administrative skills acquisition, and to suggest possible ways in achieving such skills by doctors. A self-evaluation questionnaire was distributed to the doctors and 88 of them completed and returned their forms. They consisted of 55 (62.5%) males and 33 (37.5%) females cutting across all the specialities in medicine and dentistry in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. In all, 42 (47.7%) of the respondents reported that they had good ability of management/administration while 46 (52.3%) were below average. Of the 55 males, 28 (31.8%) had good ability while 27 (30.7%) were below average. Fourteen (15.9%) of the females had good ability while (21.6%) were below average. Good knowledge was assumed by 41 (46.6%) of the respondents while 47 (53.4%) were below average. Twenty-seven (30.7%) of the males showed good knowledge as against 14 (15.9%) of the females. Twenty-eight (31.8%) of the males were below average as against 19 (21.6%) of the female respondents. The sex differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The surgeons significantly (P<0.05) claimed better knowledge of management/administrative skills than physicians though their claim of ability to perform was higher too but significant (P>0.05). The percentage of the consultants with good knowledge and ability was found to increase with increasing age except for those under 40 years of age. The differences were not significant (P>0.05). A strong positive correlation (r=0.948; P<0.001) was found between ability and knowledge. Knowledge of the respondents was found to be good predictor of the ability using the regression equation: Ability = 11.151 + 0.835 (Knowledge). Suggestions on possible way forward were made. It was concluded that improving the knowledge of the doctors while in training on management/administrative skills will positively affect their performance abilities.