Tag Archives: Romania

Mass Casualty Incidents and Disasters Participation in Real versus Simulated Events in Romania

Stănescu Adrian*, Boeriu Cristian, Copotoiu Sanda-Maria

University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tirgu Mures, Tirgu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0092

Background: 
The current study outlines some of the main particularities of both real and simulated mass casualty incidents (MCI) and disasters in Romania as reported by medical and paramedical participating personnel.
Methods:
 A non-profit organization in Romania trained 1250 doctors, nurses and paramedics for proper MCI interventions through a dedicated programme for the last part of the year 2013. Half a year later, an email with a unique link to an online questionnaire was sent to each participant to assess their opinion over the participation on real or already simulated MCI or disasters. The questionnaire consisted of 25 specific topics, out of which only a fraction were considered for the current study.
 Results: 
Out of all participants, 145 doctors, 184 nurses and 115 paramedics provided valid answers, totaling 444 responders. Most of the participants were satisfied with the information about the location and type of the incident they would respond to. The amplitude of a given event is generally well anticipated under simulation conditions as compared to real events, where the amplitude tends to be higher rather than lower than expected (p=0.0082). About three quarters of participants under real or simulated events repeated or demanded repeating the information trafficked through mobile radios, almost a quarter misinterpreted the information, and almost a half reported delayed operations due to miscommunication. Conclusions: 
Simulations are a proper method of communication evaluation for mass casualty incidents and disasters, which can also stress the common communication issues encountered during a real MCI unfolding.

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Epidemiological Survey of Dental Fear and Anxiety in Children Living in Transylvania

Gyergyay Réka1, Székely Melinda2, Mártha Krisztina1

1 Department of Pedodontics and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu-Mureş
2 Department of Morphology of Teeth and Dental Arches; Technology of Dental Prosthesis and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu-Mureş

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2014-0033

Aims: The objectives of the present survey were: 1) a systematic epidemiological investigation of dental fear and anxiety among children living in the central part of Romania and 2) to identify the most fearful aspects of dental care perceived by these children.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study 406 schoolchildren, 170 males and 263 females, aged 11-18 yearsfrom two cities, Tîrgu Mureş and Sfîntu Gheorghe were assessed. The subjects’ dental fear was evaluated with the Romanian versions of Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and Kleinknecht’s Dental Fear Survey (DFS), the anxiety level with Spielberger`s State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S, STAI-T) and their opinion about dentists with Getz’s Dental Beliefs Scale (DBS). Questionnaires were completed anonymously at school. The study was approved by theResearch Ethics Committeeof the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mureş. For statistical analysis t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation test were used by SPSS/PC statistics v. 17.0.
Results: The mean (±SD) scores of the surveyed subjects (mean age 15.69±2.06 years) were high: MDAS 10.65 (±4.5), DFS 38.68 (±15.1), DBS 36.93 (±11.9), STAI-S 37.90 (±10.9) and STAI-T 41.04 (±9.9), respectively. There was a strong positive Pearson-correlation between MDAS and DFS scores (r=0.73; p≤0.01) and a somewhat lower correlation between these scales and the general anxiety scores. Except for DBS, statistically significantly higher scores were found in females for every questionnaire (t-test, p≤0.05). The 11-year-old group presented the lowest scores in every case, while the peak was around 14 years. Age was a statistically significant factor only in case of DBS, STAI-S and STAI-T (one-way ANOVA, p<0.05). Drilling and injection were considered the most fearful moments of a dental treatment. Subjects claimed dental practitioners working under time pressure and communication deficiencies.
Conclusions: Having their special features, our findings were consistent with the local and international data. The subjects claim lack of time and communication deficiencies with the dentists. Identifying the reasons of dental fear and anxiety, might lead to solutions of avoidance or control.

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