Long-term follow-up of tobacco cessation intervention in a dental setting: A randomized trial.

Aims and Objectives: Tobacco dependence is widely prevalent and a harmful chronic disorder. Achieving long-term tobacco abstinence is an important public health goal. This study aims to assess the long-term effectiveness of moderate-intensity treatment for tobacco cessation in the dental clinic setting. Materials and Methods: Out of 1206 subjects registered to the Tobacco cessation clinic (TCC) during this time period, only 999 of them completed the 1-year follow-up period. The mean age was 45.9 ± 9 years. Six hundred and three (60.3%) of these subjects were male and 396 (39.6%) of them were females. Five hundred and fifty-eight (55.8%) used smoking tobacco and 441 (44.1%) used smokeless tobacco. Patients received tailored behavioral counseling, educational material, and pharmacotherapy consisting of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and\or NON-NRT. Patients were monitored by phone or clinic visits for 11 months. Results: Outcomes assessed were complete abstinence, harm reduction (>50% reduction), no change and lost to follow-up. At the end of 12 months the tobacco quit rate was180 (18%), tobacco reduction >50% was 342 (34.2%), no change 415 (41.5%) and relapse 62 (6.2%). Conclusions: Our study has identified adequate quit-rates in a cohort of dental patients attending a hospital-based TCC.

Toolkit for delivering the 3Es and 6As tobacco interventions in dental care.

Tobacco use is one of the major public health problems in India and also the single most important remediable public health problem. Tobacco cessation is the need of the hour. The dentists have a unique opportunity and professional obligation to be a positive influence in reducing the economic and social burden inflicted by tobacco use on dental and general health. However, dentists, in general, have not widely embraced tobacco cessation in practice. In this article, an evidence-based model (an adaptation of the World Health Organization "5As" tobacco cessation model) is presented for the dentist to help patients avoid tobacco initiation, to encourage and assist patients in tobacco cessation.

Impact of Community Defluoridation on a Village Endemic for Hydric Fluorosis in Rural Karnataka, India.

INTRODUCTION: Excessive intake of fluorides can lead to the development of fluorosis, a serious public health issue in India. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of community defluoridation in preventing fluorosis in Kaiwara village. METHODOLOGY: This community interventional trial was conducted in Kaiwara village, Karnataka, after obtaining ethical clearance. The study included 903 participants; preintervention data were collected by recording the required parameters. The postinterventional study was carried out 2 years after installing the reverse osmosis plant. Data from pre- and post-intervention study were compared. RESULTS: Dean's index showed no significant change in the pre- and post-intervention period for its various categories (P = 0.543). However, the mean urine fluoride levels were found to be decreased significantly (Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the importance of providing defluorinated water to the village population as a potential solution for fluorosis.

Profile of injury cases admitted to a tertiary level hospital in south India.

Injuries now rank among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality the world over. Injuries are steadily increasing in developing countries like India. Systematic and scientific efforts in injury prevention and control are yet to begin in India. Data on injuries are very essential to plan preventive and control measures. The objective of this study is to know the profile of the injury cases admitted to M S Ramaiah hospital, Bangalore, India, using a cross-sectional study design for six months, i.e. from Oct 2008 to April 2009. The mean age of the study population was 35.3 years (SD = 15.38), 69.1% were injured in road traffic accidents (RTA), 28.7% due to falls and 2.2% due to burns. Nearly 14.4% were under the influence of alcohol. Nearly 73.6% of RTA cases were two-wheeler users, 48.5% had not followed sign boards and 56.5% had not obeyed the one-way rules, 63.5% of the two-wheeler users did not use helmets. Also, 38% of two wheelers had two pillion riders, whereas 57% of four-wheeler users had not used a seat belt. Among falls, 58% occurred at home, 49% occurred due to slippery surface. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause for injuries, in which two wheelers were most commonly involved. Strict enforcement of traffic rules and education on road safety are very essential to prevent injuries.