Browsing by Author "Lalloo, R."

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    Antibiotic prescription patterns of South African general medical practitioners for treatment of acute bronchitis
    (South African Medical Association, 2017) Ncube, Nondumiso; Solanki, G.C.; Kredo, T.; Lalloo, R.
    Background: Antibiotic resistance is a significant public health problem. Prudent use of antibiotics is crucial in reducing this resistance. Acute bronchitis is a common reason for consultations with general medical practitioners, and antibiotics are often prescribed even though guidelines recommend not prescribing them for uncomplicated acute bronchitis. Objective: To analyse the antibiotic prescription patterns of South African (SA) general medical practitioners in the treatment of acute bronchitis. Methods: The 2013 claims for members of 11 health insurance schemes were analysed to assess antibiotic prescription patterns for patients diagnosed with acute bronchitis. The patterns were assessed by type of bronchitis, chronic health status of the patients, sex and age group. The types of antibiotic prescribed were also analysed. Results: Of 166 821 events analysed, an antibiotic was prescribed in more than half (52.9%). There were significant differences by type of bronchitis and chronic health status. Patients with viral bronchitis were more likely to be prescribed an antibiotic than those with bacterial bronchitis (odds ratio (OR) 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08 - 1.26). Patients with a chronic illness were less likely to be prescribed an antibiotic than those without (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.57 - 0.60). More than 70% of the antibiotics prescribed were cephalosporins, penicillins and other beta-lactams. Conclusions: Prescription rates of antibiotics for acute bronchitis by SA general medical practitioners are high. There is an urgent need to follow the guidelines for antibiotic use for acute bronchitis to reduce the likelihood of increasing resistance to available antibiotics.
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    Endodontic treatment-related antibiotic prescribing patterns of South African oral health professionals
    (Wiley, 2017) Lalloo, R.; Solanki, G.C.; Ramphoma, K.J.; Myburgh, Niel G.
    AIMTo assess the antibiotic prescribing patterns of South African dentists for patients undergoing endodontic treatment. METHODOLOGY This study used data from 2013 health insurance claims submitted by South African oral health professionals to determine the antibiotic prescribing patterns related to endodontic treatment. A logistic regression model was used to test the fully adjusted statistical significance of the association between the exploratory variables (gender, age group, event type, abscess treatment, chronic health) and the dependent variable (antibiotic prescription). Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported, and a 95% CI excluding 1 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Almost 10% of endodontic treatments were prescribed an antibiotic. There were no significant differences in prescribing patterns by gender, age and chronic health status. Prescriptions were more common at the preparatory stage (9.4%) of root canal treatment compared to the therapy (4.7%) and canal filling (2%) stages. Patients who received apical surgery (OR = 2.28; 95% CI 1.38–3.76) and treatment of an abscess (OR = 2.57; 95% 1.82–3.63) had a significantly increased odds of being prescribed an antibiotic. Almost three-quarters of prescriptions were for narrow spectrum antibiotics. CONCLUSION The frequency of antibiotic prescribing by South African dental practitioners for patients undergoing endodontic treatment is relatively low and predominantly involved narrow spectrum antibiotics. It, however, remains important that antibiotics are only prescribed when clinically essential, such as when there are obvious systemic effects. These include fever above 37 degrees, malaise, lymphadenopathy, trismus, increase swelling, cellulitis, osteomyelitis and persistent infection. The wider dissemination and adherence to clear evidence-based prescribing guidelines for antibiotics in this clinical area are important.
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    Gender and race distribution of dental graduates (1985 - 2004) and first year dental students (2000 - 2005) in South Africa
    (South African Dental Association, 2005) McMillan, Wendy; Lalloo, R.; Gugushe, T.S.; Ligthelm, A.J.; Evans, W.G.; Moola, Mohamad H.
    This paper, written at the close of a decade of democracy in South Africa, sets out to analyse the demographic profile of dental graduates from 1985-2004 at the five Faculties/Schools of Dentistry in South Africa. A comparison of the profiles for the pre-democracy (1985-1994) and post-apartheid (1995-2004) periods has been made. The demographic profile of first year dental students from 2000-2005 is also presented. From 1985-1994, most dental graduates were male (79%), but this changed substantially from 1995-2004, with females comprising 46% of those graduating. In the pre-democracy period, more than three-quarters of all graduates were White (78%), decreasing to 46% in the post-apartheid period under review. Black graduates increased from 6% to 24% across the two study periods. Amongst the first year dental student intake from 2000- 2005, females comprised 57%. There was an almost equal distribution across the White, Black and Asian groups. Dental faculties/schools have made important strides in transforming the demographic profile of their students. The percentage of Black graduates, however, needs to be significantly increased if it is to reflect the national population. Faculties/schools must further ensure that able students from working class background are identified and considered for acceptance into the undergraduate dental programme, and should then be offered the necessary academic and mentoring support to enable success.
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    The impact of new complete dentures on oral health-related quality of life
    (South African Dental Association, 2007) Adam, R.Z.; Geerts, Greta; Lalloo, R.
    OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between complete dentures and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQol). METHOD: Seventy-six patients were conveniently selected from the waiting list for complete dentures. At the first visit (pre-treatment) the patients were interviewed using the Ora Health Impact Profile for Edentulous Patients (OHIP-EDENT). Sixty-three of these patients were interviewed telephonically 2 to 3 months after receiving their new complete dentures (post-treatment). RESULTS: Mean domain scores were significantly lower post­ treatment for psychological discomfort and disability, social disability and handicap. CONCLUSION:This study shows that after the provision of a new set of complete dentures the OHRQoL of patients im­proved significantly on four of the seven domains for the first 2 to 3 months post-insertion.