Health Care : Current Reviews

Impact of waiting times for paediatric dental general anaesthetic on patient quality of life

Joint Webinar: 14^th International Conference on Clinical Case Reports & 6^th International Conference on Pediatrics and Healthcare & 10^th World Summit on Oncology and Cancer Science

November 24, 2022 | Webinar

Esme Grange

Salisbury District Hospital, UK

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Health Care Curr Rev

Abstract:

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of long waiting times, associated with COVID-19, on children scheduled to have dental extractions under general anaesthesia (GA) at Salisbury District Hospital (SDH). Waiting times, pain, sleep, social factors, missed school and work, antibiotic usage, previous dental GA’s (DGA) and treatment changes were recorded. Method: Parents were invited to complete a survey immediately after their child’s treatment. This was based on the Child Oral Health Quality of Life Questionnaire with additional questions to aid the investigation. Results: 49 children were included. The mean waiting time was 312.5 days. During the waiting period, 80% parents stated that their child experienced pain, 73% recorded eating and drinking difficulty and 65% recorded sleep disturbance. 78%, 59% and 61% stated that their child’s mood, social behaviour and concentration was affected, respectively. 43% of children had missed school, 29% of parents missed work and 45% of children received antibiotics. The majority (69%) of treatment remained unchanged. 10% had received a previous DGA. Discussion: Waiting times are exceedingly long but vary greatly. They are much longer than pre-COVID times. Many children are suffering during their wait and parents missing work may have wider implications for the community. Actions have been implemented to improve the high repeat dental general anaesthetic rate; however greater access to community and paediatric services would be beneficial. Action Plan: The results are to be discussed with the oral surgery department and theatre team and will also be presented at the next paediatric dentistry managed clinical network meeting. An inhalation sedation service will be introduced to reduce the load on the GA list.