Resumo

QUEIROGA, Tadeu Barbosa et al. Medical emergency situations in the dental office: an evaluation of decision making. Rev. cir. traumatol. buco-maxilo-fac. [online]. 2012, vol.12, n.1, pp. 115-122. ISSN 1808-5210.

Objective: To assess dental students' level of knowledge of the main emergency syndromes that occur in the dental office. Methods: Study conducted by dental students in a public school in the state of Paraíba using a descriptive and cross-sectional quantitative approach. one hundred and eleven students enrolled in periods 5 to 10 were evaluated by a questionnaire containing objective questions. Results: The mean score was 60.27%; the students in period 9 correctly answered 54.5% of the questions and the corresponding figure for those in period 10 was 66% (the lowest and highest hit rates, respectively); 22.5% of the students were on a hospital internship, and their average score was 64.7%, compared with the average score of 58.9% of those not on such an internship. Concerning the specific knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers, the hit rate was 24.3%. Conclusions: There was a relatively lower level of knowledgesistêmiamong the students not on a hospital internship, which indicates the importance of this activity for dental surgeons. The dental community should take note of the necessary professional training and continuing education in this regard by implementing disciplines to accompany the students throughout their course, teaching them how to deal with emergencies, and eliminating their dependence on the hospital internship for acquiring knowledge, since such syndromes can occur in any branch of dentistry.

Palavras-chave : Knowledge; Emergency relief; Basic life support.