Publications by authors named "Prishana Ramnarain"

Background: There is limited published evidence on health workers' perspectives on trends in oral antibiotic prescription for dental conditions in the public health sector.

Aim: This study set to determine healthcare practitioners' knowledge, attitudes and practices related to oral antibiotic prescriptions for dental use.

Setting: This included two public hospitals in Pietermaritzburg.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using quantitative data. Purposive sampling was used to select medical and dental practitioners from Institution A and B ( = 122). A self-administered questionnaire was developed using open and close-ended questions. Data were collected and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS version 25R).

Results: The response rate for the study was 72.1%. The majority of study participants ( = 72, 81.8%) indicated awareness of an antibiotic stewardship programme in their respective institutions. However, a significant number ( = 42; 47.7%) of participants were unsure of whether this programme was active. Most participants ( = 80, 90.9%) indicated the need for improving oral antibiotic prescription for dental conditions. Participants indicated prescription of antibiotics for orofacial swellings ( = 52; 59.0%) and dental pain related to irreversible pulpitis ( = 29; 32.9%), reversible pulpitis ( = 33; 37.5%) and dental fillings ( = 15; 17.0%). Antibiotics were also prescribed for pericoronitis ( = 58; 65.9%), periodontitis ( = 57; 64.7%) and impacted teeth ( = 21; 23.8%). All dental practitioners ( = 14) supported the need for antibiotic cover for pericoronitis and periodontitis.

Conclusion: The results indicated inconsistencies in healthcare practitioners' reported knowledge, attitudes and practices related to antibiotic prescription patterns.

Contribution: This study highlights the need for clear evidence-based guidelines for antibiotic prescription for dental conditions.