Sammendrag
This study aimed to determine the occupational-status of patients with delusional halitosis and to ascertain the effects of this condition on the subjects’ performance at work (career), social interaction and normal lifestyle. A cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed of delusional halitosis over a period of three years was carried out at the Dental Centre, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. All subjects were administered a standard halitosis questionnaire modified to analyze the effects of the condition on the subjects’ career/work and social interaction and patients’ lifestyle. Sixty-eight (68) cases of delusional halitosis were diagnosed, with a male to female ratio of 3:2. The largest group of patients were males (n=24, 35.3%) within age group 20 to 29 years. Most of the patients were students in secondary and tertiary institutions (n=34, 50.0%), lecturers/teachers (n=8, 11.8%) and traders/businesspersons (n=7, 10.3%). The condition interfered with the subjects’ motivation to work or pursue their career and inhibited their social interaction (n=51, 75.0%). Most of the patients believe the condition has adversely affected their normal lifestyle (n=45, 66.2%). We observed that delusional halitosis affects most, if not all occupations. However, students, lecturers and businesspersons were the most affected, with a predilection for young males in this study. The patients suffered poor motivation to work or pursue their career, as well as an inhibited social interaction, impaired sexual intimacy and an altered lifestyle. This underscores the need for a multidisciplinary approach in the management of this condition.
Keywords: Delusion, halitosis, work, social-interaction, lifestyle
Résumé
Cette étude a pour but de déterminer le statut professionnel des patients atteint de delusions et de certifier les effets de cette condition sur la performance du sujet au travail (carrière), interaction sociale et leur style de vie normale. Une étude sectionnaire croisée des patients diagnostiqués de délusions pendant un période de 3 ans était fait au centre Dentaire du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Benin, l’état du Benin, Nigéria. Tous les sujets étaient administrés un questionnaire standard modifié pour analyser les effets des conditions sur les carrières/ travaux des sujets, l’interaction sociale et le style de vie des patients. Soixante-huit (68) cas de délusions étaient diagnostiqués, avec un ratio de male sur femelle de 3:2. Le plus grand groupe de patients était des males (n=24, 35.3%) dans une tranche d’age de 20 - 29 ans. La plupart des patients était des étudiants des institutions secondaires et tertiaires (n=34,50.0%), les enseignants/ professeurs (n=8, 11.8%) et les commerçants/ Hommes d’affaires (n=7, 10.3%). Les conditions interferaient avec la motivation des sujets à travailler ou à poursuivre leur carrière et troublait leur interaction sociale (n=51, 75.0%). La plupart des patients croyaient que leur condition affectait negativement leur style de vie normale (n=45, 66.2%). Nous avons observé que la délusion affectait plus ou moins toutes les professions. Cependant, les élèves, les professeurs et les hommes d’affaires sont les plus affectes. Les patients souffraient d’une faible motivation à travailler ou a poursuivre leur carrière. Aussi bien qu’une interaction sociale menace. Ceci soulevait le besoin d’une approche multidisciplinaire dans la gestion de cette condition.
Correspondence: Dr. Akpata Osagie, Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. E-mail: cbnosagie@yahoo.com
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