The Weight of Words: Indian Physicians' Perspectives on Patient Communication to Promote Diabetes Adherence.

Background: Effective communication by physicians can lead to improved patient adherence, resulting in better patient outcomes and increased patient satisfaction. This study: (i) examined communication with patients when they were non-adherent, (ii) examined attitudes toward common communication cues, and (iii) explored communication approaches to encourage diabetes adherence used by Indian physicians. Methods: Using a concurrent mixed methods approach, Indian physicians, specialized in diabetes and/or endocrinology were recruited, to complete a survey containing quantitative (n = 834) and qualitative (n = 648) questions. The questions included (i) whether physicians expressed disappointment and used scare tactics for non-adherent patients, (ii) to rate the importance of common communication cues when promoting adherence, and (iii) nested, qualitative questions to understand their communication approach to promote adherence. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis, respectively. Results: The quantitative study reported that the majority of the physicians sometimes showed their disappointment in their patient's progress (44.4%), sometimes used scare tactics to convey disease severity due to non-adherence (34.3%), and rated all communication cues as most important. The qualitative findings revealed that physicians used paternalistic (authoritative, educational, authoritarian) or collaborative (multistakeholder, patient-centered) approaches and the language cues of fear, blame, and threats to promote patient adherence. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for communication skill training programs for Indian physicians focused on empathic, non-verbal, supportive, and inclusive techniques so as to promote patient adherence. Further, these trainings need to use role-playing, video recording, and peer feedback methods to show physicians how to implement these skills during patient interactions.

Changes in alveolar bone thickness due to retraction of anterior teeth during orthodontic treatment: a cephalometric and computed tomography comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the changes in alveolar bone as a result of maxillary and mandibular incisor retraction in patients with bimaxillary protrusion by means of using lateral cephalograms and computed tomography (CT) scans and to investigate any occurrence of bony defects like dehiscence and fenestration. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ten patients (age 15 ± 3 years) with bimaxillary protrusion treated by extraction of four first premolars were investigated by lateral cephalograms and CT scans during pre-treatment (T1) and after 3 months of completion of incisor retraction (T2). The labial and lingual cortex of all the incisors were assessed on the CT scan with measurements taken at site adjacent to widest point of the labiolingual root in three slices separated by 3 mm at crest level (S1), mid root level (S2), and apical level (S3). RESULT: In the mandibular arch, after lingual movement of the incisors, the bone labial to the anterior teeth decreased in thickness at the coronal level of the left lateral and left central incisors. Left lateral incisor showed significant changes in all the three levels. In the maxilla the change in the labial bone thickness was not statistically significant. Lingual bone of all the incisors showed significant changes in S1 level and S3 levels. Few patients demonstrated bone dehiscence that was not visible macroscopically or cephalometrically. CONCLUSIONS: When incisors are retracted, the risk of adverse effect is present. This must be carefully monitored to avoid negative iatrogenic effects. This study needs follow up after 6 months or 1 year after completion of the orthodontic treatment to assess the long-term consequences.

Assessment of Growth Using Mandibular Canine Calcification Stages and Its Correlation with Modified MP3 Stages.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning for growing children must involve growth prediction, especially in the treatment of skeletal problems. Studies have shown that a strong association exists between skeletal maturity and dental calcification stages. The present study was therefore taken up to provide a simple and practical method for assessing skeletal maturity using a dental periapical film and standard dental X-ray machine, to compare the developmental stages of the mandibular canine with that of developmental stages of modified MP3 and to find out if any correlation exists, to determine if the developmental stages of the mandibular canine alone can be used as a reliable indicator for assessment of skeletal maturity. METHODS: A total of 160 periapical radiographs (80 males and 80 females), of the mandibular right canine and the MP3 region was taken and assessed according to the Dermirjian's stages of dental calcification and the modified MP3 stages. RESULTS: The correlation between the developmental stages of MP3 and the mandibular right canine in male and female groups, is of high statistical significance (p = 0.001). The correlation coefficient between MP3 stages and developmental stages of mandibular canine and chronological age in male and females was found to be not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The correlation between the mandibular canine calcification stages and MP3 stages was found to be significant. The developmental stages of the mandibular canine could be used very reliably as a sole indicator for assessment of skeletal maturity.