Perceived Stress and its Relationship with Coping Strategies among Doctors at a Tertiary Hospital in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Medical doctors are prone to stress and utilize a variety of coping strategies. This study aims to measure the level of perceived stress and its relationship with coping strategies among doctors working in a tertiary hospital in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study using a self-administered questionnaire containing Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Brief COPE Scale to assess perceived stress and coping strategies among different cadres of doctors. Out of the 217 questionnaires distributed, 185 completed copies were analysed. RESULTS: Most of the respondents were less than 35 years (mean = 33.6 ±6.21) and the rate of perceived stress was 43.2%. The mean scores of Perceived Stress Scale and Brief COPE were 23.08 (±6.58) and 59.46 (±12.05). Socio-demographic factors significantly associated with perceived stress were age less than 35 years, being single, working in the hospital and years of practice less than 5 years and being house-officer or registrar (p< .001). Respondent that were not stressed reported significant higher mean scores in active coping and positive reframing but lower mean scores in humor (p< .05). Also, they reported significant lower mean scores in maladaptive coping and its subscales (p<.003). Perceived stress had a significant negative correlation with active coping (p=.017) and positive correlation with maladaptive coping and all its subscales (p< .006). Only age of respondents significantly predicted perceived stress among respondents (p = .003). CONCLUSION: There is high level of stress among a sample of Nigerian doctors. Hence, there is a need for stress management program among them.

Self-medication profile of dental patients in Ondo State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The practice of self medication has been extensively researched but there is dearth of information about its modality among dental patients in developing countries. Hence, this study was designed to determine the proportion of dental patients who practice, medications employed and the reasons for resorting to self medication in general dental populations in Ondo State, Nigeria and to make appropriate recommendations. METHODS: This study was conducted between June 2007 and June 2008 at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo and State Specialist Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Five hundred and thirty six consenting respondents were selected by multistage sampling technique and interviewed with the aid of semi structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Almost half of the respondents (42% or n=225) admitted to self medication while the majority (58%) did not practice it. Drugs utilized are usually singly (56.4%) rather than in combination (43.6%), commonly analgesics (50.1%) and antibiotics (30.4%), with the majority (45.8%) using the medications for at least one week. The reasons cited by respondents for self medication were their perception that they know what to do and it saves time and money. CONCLUSION: A sizable majority of the respondents admitted to self-medication usually with analgesics. Adequate health education of the populace on the use and misuse of analgesics needs to be mounted, while dental services should be made readily available and affordable so that self medication among dental patients can be reduced to the barest minimum.

Self-medication profile of dental patients in Ondo state, Nigeria

The practice of selfmedication has been extensively researched but there is dearth of information about its modality among dental patients in developing countries. Hence; this study was designed to determine the proportion of dental patients who practice; medications employed and the reasons for resorting to self medication in general dental populations in Ondo State; Nigeria and tomake appropriate recommendations. This study was conducted between June 2007 and June 2008 at the Federal Medical Centre; Owo and State Specialist Hospital; Akure; Ondo State; Nigeria. Five hundred and thirty six consenting respondents were selected by multistage sampling technique and interviewed with the aid of semi structured questionnaire. Results: Almost half of the respondents (42or n=225) admitted to self medication while the majority (58) did not practice it. Drugs utilized are usually singly (56.4) rather than in combination (43.6); commonly analgesics (50.1) and antibiotics (30.4); with themajority (45.8) using the medications for at least one week. The reasons cited by respondents for self medication were their perception that they know what to do and it saves time andmoney. A sizable majority of the respondents admitted to self-medication usually with analgesics. Adequate health education of the populace on the use and misuse of analgesics needs to be mounted; while dental services should be made readily available and affordable so that self medication among dental patients can be reduced to the barest minimum