Evaluation of oral health care seeking behavior in rural population of central India.

OBJECTIVES: To study the perception regarding common oral diseases and health seeking behaviour related to those diseases among rural population of central India. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted in the rural areas of Wardha, Maharashtra on a population between the age group of 18 and above. Data was recorded by a self administered, structured questionnaire in this study. Questionnaire was based on oral health literacy and health seeking behaviour of participants. RESULTS: Study included 700 participants, 343 males and 347 females. Dental problem was reported by 68% of participants. Toothache was the most common dental problem reported. Government hospitals were chosen by 19% of participants as treatment centre. Fear 24.3% was found to be the major reason for not visiting the dentist. CONCLUSION: Healthcare seeking behaviour among rural population towards oral diseases was poor. So efforts must be made to bring a change in this scenario.

Assessment of the oral health seeking behavior of patients with premalignant lesions.

BACKGROUND: Before choosing/visiting any dental facility for their treatment, patients consider several factors. These factors may be related to the patient or service provider. The health-seeking behavior of a society defines how health services are used. AIMS: To assess the health seeking behavior of patients with premalignant lesions. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross sectional study using questionnaire was done among the patients who consulted in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, of age 18 and above suffering from precancerous lesions. The questionnaire included 25 close-ended questions which collected information about the demographic details, oral hygiene habits, oral health issues, deleterious habits. The responses were either on dichotomous scale (yes and no) or on the frequency habits. A total of 218 subjects were included in the study. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square test. The acceptable level of significance was reduced to P < 0.05. RESULT: Slightly over 50% of study participants visited the dentist for their dental problems. Most of the participants visited dental clinic whenever needed. Maximum positive health seeking behavior is seen in fourth and fifth decade and minimum seen in second and third decade. CONCLUSION: The oral premalignant lesions have high chances of transformation into malignancies. The progression of these lesions can be prevented by stopping the progression at an early stage and thus instilling positive health seeking behavior serves as an important key to it.

Anesthetic Efficacy of Buccal Infiltration Articaine versus Lidocaine for Extraction of Primary Molar Teeth.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of articaine versus lidocaine, both containing epinephrine, using a single buccal infiltration for extraction of primary molars.A total of 100 children requiring primary molar extraction received buccal infiltration using either 4% articaine or 2% lidocaine, both with epinephrine, with 50 children in each group. The Wong-Baker Facial Pain Scale (FPS) was used to evaluate pain perception subjectively. The heart rate and the blood pressure values were assessed objectively as an indirect measure of physiological pain perception. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used for comparing mean pain scores, heart rate, and blood pressure in both the groups. Single buccal infiltration with articaine was sufficient for achieving palatal or lingual anesthesia in all the children receiving it while all children in the lidocaine group required supplemental anesthesia. The mean FPS value was found to be higher in lidocaine group and was statistically significant. The mean heart rate recorded during the intervention was less than the mean baseline values in the articaine group, which was found to be statistically significant. For pediatric patients age 7 to 12 years, single buccal infiltration with 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine is more effective compared to 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine for primarly molar extraction.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices regarding Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reaction reporting among Dental Students in a Teaching Hospital, Jodhpur, India: A Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: This is a cross-sectional knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) study on pharmacovigilance (PV) and adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting among dental students in a teaching hospital in India. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the KAP of dental students regarding PV, ADR reporting, and barriers toward the same. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using a self-administered, investigator-developed, close-ended questionnaire was conducted in an academic dental hospital in India. All prescribers including third year students, final year students, and house surgeons of the same institute were included for assessment of KAP regarding PV using 16, 8, and 8 items respectively. Data regarding barriers toward ADR reporting and demographics were also collected. Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis test were applied followed by post hoc test. RESULTS: A total of 241 of 275 respondents participated in the study with a response rate of 87.5%. Overall, 64% reported that they had no idea about the term PV. Age was significantly associated with knowledge (p = 0.045) and attitude (p = 0.016). Barriers contributing to underreporting were difficulty in deciding whether or not an ADR has occurred (52.0%), concerns that the report may be wrong (37%), lack of confidence to discuss ADR with colleagues (29%), and almost no financial benefits (24%). CONCLUSION: Participants had a comparatively favorable attitude toward PV, but their knowledge and practice need considerable improvements. This study highlights the need for appropriate dental curriculum changes and further multicentric studies to shed more light on important issues of PV among dentists in India. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study explores dentists' knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding PV, which could help to improve patient's safety and care. The favorable attitude of dentists is an indication that PV could be added in depth in the curriculum and in general practice. Information on barriers for reporting the ADRs could help to find possible solutions for removing the barriers precisely.

An Insight Into Research Ethics among Dental Professionals in A Dental Institute, India- A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Research activities are increasing in all the fields of medicine including dentistry but there is dearth of information about the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of dental professionals for ethical principles in research, especially in the developing countries like India. OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge, attitude and behaviour among dental professionals pertaining to research ethics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A self-administered, close ended questionnaire survey with cross-sectional design was conducted in a private dental institute in India. All the house-surgeons, post-graduate students and the faculty of the same institute were included for the assessment of the knowledge, attitude and behaviour regarding research ethics using a 24, 8 and 8 items. RESULTS: A total of 213 of 230 dental professionals participated (response rate of 92.6%). Mean knowledge, attitude and behaviour scores were 43.3%, 82.5% and 46.37%, respectively. Significant correlations were observed of age and gender with the attitude about the research ethics among study subjects (χ(2)=14.383, p=0.006 and χ(2)=7.769, p=0.021, respectively). CONCLUSION: Participants had favorable attitude towards research ethics, but their knowledge and behaviour needs considerable improvements. The age and gender were associated with attitude. The present pilot study highlights the need for further nationwide study and development of research ethics curriculum in detail for dental education in India.