Study motives, career choices and interest in paediatric dentistry among final year dental students in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Students' motives for studying Dentistry have been a subject of interest for years because of the potential for understanding the psychological makeup and subsequent job satisfaction for the dentist. It is also useful in identifying expectations of the profession. This study therefore tried to identify study motives and career preferences of dental students especially with respect to the practice of paediatric dentistry. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire. The final year students in six dental schools in Nigeria were required to fill the questionnaire. Students were asked to rank their motives and career preferences on a Likert like scale with points ranging from 0-5 where 0 represented a factor that had no influence on their decision and 5 represented a very influential factor. The underlying dimensions for study motives, career preference, impression about and motive for interest in the practice of paediatric dentistry were identified using factor analysis. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy nine of 223 students (80.3%) participated in this study. Motives for the practice of dentistry included characteristics of the profession, altruism and intellectual challenges, existence of artistic theme in dentistry and parent's recommendation. Overall, 67.1% of respondents indicated interest in postgraduate studies and 50.8% were interested in paediatric dentistry practice. The main motives for showing interest in the practice of paediatric dentistry were 'personal interest, professional interest and interest of significant others in children', and 'family influence'. Significantly more males than females were interested in the practice of paediatric dentistry though the motives for interest in the practice of paediatric dentistry did not differ significantly by sex or age. CONCLUSION: The non-significant sex difference in the motives for interest in the practice of paediatric dentistry is a possible reflection of changes in strong cultural themes in the motives for career choices in Nigeria.

Factors associated with the desire for companionship during labor in a Nigerian community.

OBJECTIVE: To determine preferences for companionship during labor and to identify associated factors. METHODS: The present prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted at a university teaching hospital in Nigeria between September 1, 2011, and February 28, 2012. Participants included women who underwent the first stage of labor and delivery at the facility, male partners, and healthcare workers from the maternity unit. Data were collected using a pretested questionnaire. RESULTS: There were 226 parturients, 158 male partners, and 69 healthcare workers included in the final analysis; in all, 50 (22.1%) parturients and 37 (23.4%) male partners approved of companionship during labor, whereas 62 (90%) healthcare workers supported it. Among those who approved, a parturient's male partner was stated to be the preferred companion by 33 (66%) parturients, 32 (86%) male partners, and 58 (94%) healthcare workers. The perception of conduciveness of the labor ward for companionship was associated with approving of companionship among both the parturients (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.74) and male partners (aOR 15.79). Previous home delivery (aOR 31.43) and companionship during a previous delivery (aOR 23.00) were also associated with approval. CONCLUSION: Most couples had negative attitudes toward companionship during labor. Intensive education programs and restructuring of facilities could enable Nigerian labor wards to improve the delivery experience for both parturients and their male partners.

Effectiveness of thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis in the management of complicated spontaneous pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND: Complicated (recurring or persistent) spontaneous pneumothorax requires intervention either by surgical or nonsurgical pleurodesis or other interventions. As for high-risk patients, aggressive interventions may be associated with morbidity, the safety and effectiveness of less aggressive alternative interventions like thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis (TTP) should be evaluated. METHODS: Data were extracted on patients who had undergone TTP for complicated spontaneous pneumothorax at Interventional Clinic, University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. The complications, length of hospital stay, and success rate over a 24-month period were studied. RESULTS: A total of 41 TTP procedures were performed for 25 (61%) cases of primary spontaneous pneumothorax and for 16 (39%) cases of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. Twenty-four cases were first episodes, whereas it was a recurrence in 17. Of 4 patients with blebs/bullae, 2 had recurrence after TTP.No patient had acute respiratory distress syndrome or any other serious complication after TTP. Recurrence rates after TTP in primary and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax were 9.5% and 25% at 24 months, respectively. The mean length of hospital stay after TTP was 3±3.2 days. CONCLUSIONS: TTP is a safe and effective intervention in complicated spontaneous pneumothorax.