Emergency Medication Preparedness in Sudanese Dental Practice: Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Systemic Barriers
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Abstract
Background: Medical emergencies in dental practice, such as anaphylaxis or hypoglycemia, demand timely and competent intervention.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of Sudanese dentists regarding emergency medications and identify barriers affecting their preparedness in clinical settings.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey targeting Sudanese dental practitioners from January to June 2024. A validated questionnaire was used to assess emergency preparedness among 413 participants, employing convenience sampling. Data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS version 25.0.
Results: Most of the respondents were female (59%), under 30 years old (66.8%), and dental interns (66.5%). While 70.5% reported receiving emergency training, only 30% demonstrated excellent knowledge, with notable gaps in identifying tachycardia (17.4% correct). Attitudes were largely neutral (66.3%), despite 83.5% strongly agreeing on the importance of emergency medications. In practice, 44.8% showed excellent performance, yet only 28.1% checked their emergency kits monthly. Medication availability varied, with aspirin (93.9%) and salbutamol (76.7%) commonly stocked, while hydrocortisone (35.7%) and glyceryl trinitrate (19.4%) were deficient.
Conclusion: Despite moderate levels of self-reported training, critical gaps persist in Sudanese dentists' knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding emergency medications, as well as their availability in clinics. The predominance of early-career practitioners combined with systemic constraints highlights the urgent need for curriculum reforms, simulation-based training, and national policy interventions to strengthen emergency preparedness and safeguard vulnerable patients' resource-constrained settings.
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Dentists; Emergency Preparedness; Medication Shortage; Sudan; Syncope; Dental Education; Clinical Competence
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