Can a four-hour interactive workshop on the management of dental emergencies be effective in improving self reported levels of clinician proficiency?
BACKGROUND
Management of dental emergencies is a clinical problem facing many primary care providers who have often received little training in this area.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the impact of a four-hour interactive workshop on clinicians' self reported proficiency in managing common dental emergencies.


METHODS
A descriptive study design using a questionnaire type survey instrument was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief interactive workshop.


RESULTS
The workshop positively impacted proficiency, especially in oral local anaesthesia, management of avulsed teeth and dental trauma. Open comments from participants focused on the lack of dental topics in professional training.


CONCLUSIONS
Further education is required in the management of dental emergencies such as odontogenic infections, dental local anaesthesia, trauma, intra-oral haemorrhage and in dental nomenclature.


CONCLUSIONS
An effective interactive workshop intervention employing blended instructional techniques may help improve the management of dental emergencies and patient outcomes.
Westmead Centre for Oral Health, Western Sydney Local Health District, Australia. tony skapetis@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Tony
T
Skapetis
Tania
T
Gerzina
Wendy
W
Hu
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003729:Dental Care / Q000379:methods*; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D006472:Oral Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy; D010508:Periodontal Abscess / Q000628:therapy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000628:therapy