IntroductionVarious studies have reported poor awareness and knowledge of dentistry in the Nigerian population. There is, however, paucity of information assessing the knowledge and awareness of medical doctors/students and nurses about dentistry. The present study is aimed at determining the knowledge and awareness of medical doctors/students and nurses about dentistry.MethodsSelf-administered questionnaires were randomly distributed among medical doctors/students, and nurses of Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospitals’ Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Information collected using the questionnaire included participants’ biodata, questions evaluating dental awareness, knowledge of systemic and oral health connections as well as referral practices. The data analysis was done with STATA version 11 software.ResultsA total of 300 questionnaires were randomly distributed among doctors/students and nurses, 206 were returned (response rate of 69%). Of the returned questionnaires, 129(63%) were males and 77(37%) were females. There were 42 medical doctors, 49 nurses and 115 medical students. The mean age of the participants was 26.7 years (SD 5.2). Majority (99.5%) was aware of dental profession, but 92% had never referred patients for dental consultation. One third (31%) of medical doctors believed that Ludwig angina was a cardiac disease. A large proportion of the respondents (61%) see no need for routine dental visit while 27% would want to visit the dentist only when they had a dental complaint.ConclusionAlthough a large percentage of the participants claimed to be aware of dentistry, our findings revealed low level of knowledge and attitude to Dentistry. Efforts should be made towards closing this knowledge gap to achieve efficient oral health.
Aim: To assess the level of awareness and perceptions of Creative Arts Therapy (CAT) among practicing Nigerian clinicians in Obafemi Awolowo University, Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) Ile-Ife with a view to determining their willingness to incorporate CAT as an adjunctive tool in their routine patient care.
Methodology: A Cross-sectional study carried out at the general outpatient department, medical outpatient department, Surgical outpatient department and Dental Hospital units of OAUTHC between April 2018 and September 2019. One hundred participants were selected using simple random method from the pool of clinicians. Data were collected from the participants using self-administered structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using STATA 14 statistical software.
Results: A total of 100 clinicians participated, 46% male 54% female. Their average age was 23.9 2.1years. Seventy-one (71%) were medical practitioner while 29(29%) were dentist. Resident doctors made up 70% of respondents while 30% were consultants. As a necessary adjunctive tool, about one-third 31(31%) strongly agreed, 42(42%) agreed while only 1(1%) participant disagreed. Dance was chosen as the most relevant art to clinical practice by 36(36%) of respondents. Significant improvements by CAT on patients’ prognosis was strongly agreed with by 36(36%), 50(50%) agreed, 18(18%) were indifferent. The majority of respondents attributed lack of available institutions offering Creative Art Therapy courses a major hindrance to its clinical application. The majority 90(90%) of clinicians agreed to the possible incorporation of Creative Art Therapy into the Nigerian healthcare system. Nine participants (9%) strongly agree to prescribe art therapy if such services are readily available in Nigerian healthcare system, 62(62%) agree, 25(25%) were indifferent while 4(4%) disagreed.
Conclusion: This study showed that a larger percentage of clinicians, claimed awareness of Art therapy being used as an adjunctive tool in patient care, and believes in its therapeutic benefits. Lack of facilities was identified as an obstacle to the use of art therapy in patient care.
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