Editorial 2022 Inclusion of medical emergencies syllabus in our dental school curriculum

Abstract

The prevention, diagnosis, and management of medical emergencies are of utmost importance in the practice of dentistry. Dental students and dental surgeons must be well trained and prepared to manage all possible medical emergencies in their daily professional practices. The team must be competent and confident in handling the initial basic emergency treatment with quality. Proper management of life-threatening medical emergencies may lead to the prevention of possible death and complications. This may also avert the psychological trauma that the healthcare professional may go through and the stigma attached to the hospital or clinic. Besides that, the ethical and legal implications of medical emergencies related to the obligations of the healthcare practitioner cannot be overlooked. The teaching of medical emergencies in our dental schools starts at the pre-clinical undergraduate level. However, the program is not well structured. Despite the consensus on the importance of training in medical emergencies, several international studies show unsatisfactory results by demonstrating low knowledge and confidence of professionals in managing medical emergencies and first aid. As a result of these international research findings, there has been a
paradigm shift in teaching undergraduate students in most developed countries. The fundamental change in the approach now is emphasizing on a more competency-based curriculum and more hands-on teaching. Hence the need for a revision and inclusion of medical emergencies in our curricula in Ghana.