Analgesics prescription in Nigerian dental healthcare services

Abstract

Introduction:Alleviation of pain is considered high priority care and service in dental and medical practice worldwide. The study was conducted to evaluate analgesics prescription among dentists in Nigeria.Materials and Methods:This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among dentists attending continuing education courses in Nigeria organized by the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and Regional Centre for Oral Health Research and Training Initiatives for Africa.Results:Out of the 150 questionnaires distributed, 138 questionnaires were returned giving a 92.0% response rate. Males constituted 88 (63.8%) while the remaining 50 (36.2%) were females. The most common prescribed analgesic among the respondents was paracetamol 54 (39.1%). Factors that influenced the choice of prescribed analgesics among the respondents in descending order were severity of pain or intended pain, patient medical condition, type of procedure, age of the patient, delayed treatment, economic status, uncertainty of diagnosis and patient requestConclusion:The non-opioid analgesics specifically paracetamol was the most commonly prescribed by the respondents and the choice of analgesics was influenced by variety of factors.