Smereka Jacek, Aluchna Marcin, Aluchna Alicja, Puchalski Marcin, Wroblewski Pawel, Checinski Igor, Leskiewicz Marcin, Szarpak Lukasz
Department of Emergency Medical Service, Wroclaw Medical University.
Department of Conservative Dentistry, Medical University of Warsaw.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Jul;98(30):e16613. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000016613.
Dental hygienists in Poland work in various settings, including public health care institutions, private dental practices, dental clinics, kindergartens, and schools. They can often face medical emergencies, whose rate is increasing owing to comorbidities and aging of dental patients' populations. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of medical emergencies in dental hygienists' practice in Poland and the hygienists' preparedness and attitudes toward emergencies.A 10-question authors' own questionnaire was filled in by 613 dental hygienist. It referred to their cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, availability of emergency medical equipment in the workplace, the prevalence of medical emergencies including the need for an emergency medical service (EMS) call, and the management of cardiac arrest.Overall, 613 dental hygienists working in Poland participated in the study; 38.99% had taken part in basic life support (BLS) training within the previous 12 months and 35.89% within 2 to 5 years; 15.17% had experienced at least 1 emergency situation requiring an EMS call within the previous 12 months. Vasovagal syncope was the most common medical emergency (15.97%), followed by moderate anaphylactic reaction (13.87%), seizures (8.81%), hyperventilation crisis (7.50%), and hypoglycemia (7.34%).The most common medical emergency in dental hygienists' practice in Poland is syncope followed by mild anaphylactic reaction. Most of the dental hygienist had participated in a BLS course within the previous 5 years; however, 20% of them have never participated since graduation. Dental hygienists should participate in BLS courses every 2 years to keep the cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills and stay up-to-date with current guidelines. An important part of the study participants declare the lack of availability in their workplaces of life-saving equipment, including self-expanding bag resuscitator, oropharyngeal, and supraglottic airway device and oxygen source. Medical emergency equipment as recommended in the international guidelines should be available in every practice.
波兰的口腔保健员在多种场所工作，包括公共卫生保健机构、私人牙科诊所、牙科门诊、幼儿园和学校。他们经常会面临医疗紧急情况，由于牙科患者群体的合并症和老龄化，这种情况的发生率正在上升。本研究的目的是评估波兰口腔保健员工作中医疗紧急情况的发生率以及他们对紧急情况的准备情况和态度。613名口腔保健员填写了作者自行设计的一份包含10个问题的问卷。问卷涉及他们的心肺复苏培训情况、工作场所急救医疗设备的配备情况、医疗紧急情况的发生率（包括呼叫紧急医疗服务[EMS]的需求）以及心脏骤停的处理情况。总体而言，613名在波兰工作的口腔保健员参与了该研究；38.99%的人在过去12个月内参加过基础生命支持（BLS）培训，35.89%的人在2至5年内参加过；15.17%的人在过去12个月内经历过至少1次需要呼叫EMS的紧急情况。血管迷走性晕厥是最常见的医疗紧急情况（15.97%），其次是中度过敏反应（13.87%）、癫痫发作（8.81%）、过度换气危机（7.50%）和低血糖（7.34%）。波兰口腔保健员工作中最常见的医疗紧急情况是晕厥，其次是轻度过敏反应。大多数口腔保健员在过去5年内参加过BLS课程；然而，其中20%的人自毕业以来从未参加过。口腔保健员应每2年参加一次BLS课程，以保持心肺复苏技能并跟上当前指南。研究参与者中有相当一部分人表示其工作场所缺乏救生设备，包括自动膨胀式复苏器、口咽通气道、声门上气道装置和氧气源。国际指南中推荐的急救医疗设备应在每个诊所配备。
