The dental team: A ready reserve or an overlooked resource?

Insights into Disaster Management Scenario among Various Health-Care Students in India: A Multi-Institutional, Multi-Professional Study

Background

The frequency of occurrence of disasters is on the rise all over the world. Workforce shortage can be a major impediment toward efficient disaster management. Incorporation of other health-care workers along with conventional medical personnel might be critical for efficient and effective management of disasters.

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess various aspects pertaining to disaster management among various health-care students in India.

Methods

Final-year students pursuing medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, Ayurveda, and homeopathy at various institutions in Mangalore, India, were the study participants. Participants' willingness to partake in disaster management and knowledge, attitude, behavior, and perceived effectiveness pertaining to disaster management was ascertained by a questionnaire method. Their previous history of training and familiarity with standard operating procedures was assessed.

Results

A total of 437 students belonging to seven health-care institutions participated in the study. Overall, 98.40% of the participants were willing to partake in disaster management. The mean knowledge, attitude, behavior, and perceived effectiveness scores were 49.19%, 81.75%, 47.28%, and 66.20%, respectively. Step-wise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that course (β = 0.247, P < 0.001), attitude (β = 0.154,P = 0.001), and behavior (β = 0.284, P < 0.001) were significant predictors of perceived effectiveness.

Conclusions

Participants in the present study revealed that they were willing to partake in disaster management. The participants also reported poor behavior and knowledge scores but appropriate attitude scores. The present study highlights the need for curriculum changes and policy implications for effective integration of various sectors for disaster management, particularly in developing nations such as India, which have a definite scarcity of resources.

Recasting Disaster Recovery Strategy at Dental Workplace in Combating Crisis - A Questionnaire Study

INTRODUCTION

The number of reported natural and human-made disasters continues to rise worldwide. Disasters occur every day somewhere in the world with dramatic impact on individuals, families and communities.

AIM

This study was designed to measure the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding disaster management among academicians and practitioners in Ghaziabad city.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 487 dentists. A questionnaire (15 items) measuring knowledge, attitude and practice was distributed manually to the participating dentists and data was analysed using SPSS software, version 19.0 and student t-test was performed to assess the differences.

RESULTS

There was statistically significant relation between knowledge and attitude in relation to qualification degree, career prospective and years of experience (p <0.05).

CONCLUSION

Dentists form an important part of the health care community and thus there is a need to harvest the services of wide distribution of dentists practicing in our country.

The Role of Dentistry in Disaster Management and Victim Identification: An Overview of Challenges in Indo-Nepal Scenario

BACKGROUND

Recently, natural disasters and terrorist activities have been leading to mass casualty situations unexpectedly around the globe. In addition to the traditional emergency medical services centering around medically trained and paramedic personnel, dental practitioners having vital skills and attributes may be important in responding to a mass casualty situation.

OBJECTIVE

This paper aims at discussing the role of dentists in disaster management and the role of forensic odontology in the disaster victim identification (DVI), its status in India and some suggestions to develop the plans for same.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Articles were searched in various medical databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed Central, Sciencedirect,Wiley online Library, Scopus, Copernicus to gather all relevant information on the subject. Various keywords were used as search tool such as 'Mass disaster', 'Forensic odontology', 'Victim identification'.

RESULTS

The search resulted in total of 170 articles which we reviewed. Due to limitation to the list of references we have constricted our review to only 39 articles for more informative literature and supported the topic of the present manuscript 'The Role of Dentistry in Disaster Management and Victim Identification: An Overview of Challenges in Indo-Nepal Scenario' more specifically.

CONCLUSION

Every disaster is unique and involves interplay of different factors and circumstances such as nature of disaster, number of victims and extent of body fragmentation that ultimately challenges the disaster response planning. Apart from the victim recovery and evacuation, the disaster response planning must include the established procedures for the identification of the victims of the disaster. The identification of victims essentially relies on forensic anthropology, radiology, DNA typing and fingerprints, as well as odontology.

Disaster Management and General Dental Practitioners in India: An Overlooked Resource

OBJECTIVE

To assess General Dental Practitioners' (GDPs) in India willingness to participate in disaster management and their previous training pertaining to disaster management, and to assess GDP objective knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding disaster management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted on all GDPs of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. Willingness to participate, perceived knowledge, perceived effectiveness, objective knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding disaster management were assessed through questionnaire method. Information also was collected regarding age, gender, religion, and residence.

RESULTS

A total of 142 out of 180 GDPs participated in the study, representing a response rate of 79%. A majority (85%) of respondents were willing to participate in disaster management. Mean score for knowledge was 12.21%, for attitude was 33.56%, for behavior was 14.50%, and for perceived effectiveness was 9.08%. Significant correlations were observed between qualification and perceived effectiveness (P=.003), and between attitude and years of practice (P=.04). Willingness to participate in disaster management and age showed significant association (P=.000).

CONCLUSIONS

High willingness and attitude to participate in disaster management was observed among respondents. Low knowledge and behavior scores were observed among GDPs.

Disaster management among dental graduates in a private dental institution in India: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

To obtain insights into disaster management among dental graduates in a dental institute in India.

METHODS

A total of 103 of 104 house surgeons in Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswar College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, participated in the main study (response rate = 99.04%). Their knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding disaster management were assessed by use of a survey questionnaire. Information was also collected regarding age, gender, religion, and residence.

RESULTS

Mean knowledge, attitude, and behavior scores toward disaster management were 45.46%, 79.53%, and 37.70%, respectively. A significant relationship was observed between knowledge and attitude scores (r = 0.248, P = .012). No significant differences were found in knowledge, attitude, and behavior by gender, religion, and residence. Religion was a significant predictor of knowledge scores (χ2 = 10.108, P = .006).

CONCLUSIONS

Respondents had favorable attitudes toward disaster management, but their knowledge and behavior required considerable improvement. Knowledge of the respondents was significantly associated with their attitude. This pilot study highlights the need for curriculum changes in dental education in India and further nationwide study.

Willingness to participate in disaster management among Indian dental graduates

INTRODUCTION

India has been the focal point of various disasters, and has suffered considerable losses due to the same. Manpower shortage can impede disaster management; hence, including dental professionals in disaster management in India can be crucial.

HYPOTHESIS/PROBLEM

To assess willingness to participate in disaster management among Indian dental graduates; to assess the objective knowledge, attitude, behavior and perceived knowledge regarding disaster management among Indian dental graduates.

METHODS

All the interns in Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Karnataka were included in the present study. Their willingness to participate in disaster management and their objective knowledge, attitude, behavior and perceived knowledge related to disaster management were assessed using a questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 86 study subjects participated. A majority (98.8%) of respondents were willing to participate in disaster management. Mean objective knowledge, attitude, behavior and perceived knowledge scores were 48.65%, 80.26%, 29.85% and 60.80% respectively. Males reported higher perceived knowledge than females (P = .008), and respondents residing in hostels reported higher perceived knowledge than those not residing in hostels (P = .02). Gender showed significant correlations with attitude (r = 4.076, P = .044) and behavior (r = 3.722, P = .054), and residence with behavior of respondents (r = 5.690, P = .017).

CONCLUSIONS

A high degree of willingness to provide assistance during disasters was observed among undergraduate dental students. High attitude coupled with low knowledge and behavior scores regarding disaster management was also observed. Gender was associated with attitude and behavior, and residence with behavior of respondents regarding disaster management. Including disaster management in dental curricula and involvement of dental professionals in disaster management might be crucial for disaster management in India.