Review of research designs and statistical methods employed in dental postgraduate dissertations.

CONTEXT: There is a need to evaluate the quality of postgraduate dissertations of dentistry submitted to university in the light of the international standards of reporting. AIMS: We conducted the review with an objective to document the use of sampling methods, measurement standardization, blinding, methods to eliminate bias, appropriate use of statistical tests, appropriate use of data presentation in postgraduate dental research and suggest and recommend modifications. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The public access database of the dissertations from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences was reviewed. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and thirty-three eligible dissertations underwent preliminary evaluation followed by detailed evaluation of 10% of randomly selected dissertations. The dissertations were assessed based on international reporting guidelines such as strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE), consolidated standards of reporting trials (CONSORT), and other scholarly resources. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The data were compiled using MS Excel and SPSS 10.0. Numbers and percentages were used for describing the data. RESULTS: The "in vitro" studies were the most common type of research (39%), followed by observational (32%) and experimental studies (29%). The disciplines conservative dentistry (92%) and prosthodontics (75%) reported high numbers of in vitro research. Disciplines oral surgery (80%) and periodontics (67%) had conducted experimental studies as a major share of their research. Lacunae in the studies included observational studies not following random sampling (70%), experimental studies not following random allocation (75%), not mentioning about blinding, confounding variables and calibrations in measurements, misrepresenting the data by inappropriate data presentation, errors in reporting probability values and not reporting confidence intervals. Few studies showed grossly inappropriate choice of statistical tests and many studies needed additional tests. CONCLUSIONS: Overall observations indicated the need to comply with standard guidelines of reporting research.

Comparison of chewing ability, oral health related quality of life and nutritional status before and after insertion of complete denture amongst edentulous patients in a Dental College of Pune.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between tooth loss and nutritional intake is important. As people age, their diminished physical capacity and decreased income adversely affect their ability to maintain their teeth. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the chewing ability, oral health related quality of life and nutritional status before and after fabrication and insertion of complete denture amongst edentulous participants in a dental college. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Non Randomized Intervention study. The study population consisted of 42 participants (16 females and 26 males), aged 50 years and above. Prior to commencement of the study, informed consent was obtained and validation and reliability test of the questionnaire were done. The data for chewing ability, GOHAI and nutritional status assessment was recorded at baseline, 3(rd), 6(th) and 12(th) month after denture fabrication and insertion. The statistical comparisons were performed by repeated measure ANOVA and Chi-square test. P value<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: Chewing ability, GOHAI, BMI (Body Mass Index) and data from Food-intake questionnaire showed statistically significant improvement from baseline to 6(th) month but no statistically significant improvement was observed from 6(th) month to 12(th) month. Nutritive value of food (protein, energy and fat) showed no significant difference over a period of 12 months (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Thus, it was concluded that the intervention (denture insertion) was effective in increasing the chewing ability, body weight, food-intake, and oral health related quality of life.

Assessment of non-cavitated and cavitated carious lesions among 12- to 15-year-old government and private school children in Pune, Maharashtra, India.

PURPOSE: The present cross-sectional study was conducted to assess and compare the mean number of non-cavitated (initial lesions, IL) and cavitated carious lesions (WHO criteria) per child in the permanent dentition and to correlate it with the plaque index among 12- to 15-year-old government and private school children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 481 schoolchildren aged 12-15 years were selected randomly by multistage random sampling from two government and two private schools. Demographic details were collected at the time of examination. Baseline plaque scores were recorded using the Silness and Löe plaque index. Immediately after brushing and drying the teeth, cavitated lesions were recorded based on WHO recommendations and non-cavitated lesions were recorded using the IL criteria of Nyvad et al and Fyffe et al. RESULTS: The mean number of surfaces with cavitated and non-cavitated lesions for government school children was 2.13 ± 2.98 and 3.21 ± 2.97, respectively, and 1.24 ± 1.86 and 3.08 ± 2.33 for private school children, respectively. WHO + IL surfaces among private school children were 4.33 ± 3.48 and in government school children 5.35 ± 4.45. There was a positive correlation of plaque score with IL (r = 0.63) and WHO+IL (r = 0.73). CONCLUSION: Non-cavitated lesions are about twice as common as cavitated carious lesions in school children. Government school children had a higher number of cavitated and non-cavitated carious lesions when compared with private school children.

Comparison of different screening methods in estimating the prevalence of precancer and cancer amongst male inmates of a jail in maharashtra, India.

AIM: To compare the effectiveness of self-examination, clinical examination and screening methods using 1% toluidine blue and Lugol's iodine in estimating the prevalence of lesions at risk of malignancy and oral malignant disease amongst the male inmates of Yerwada Central Jail, Pune. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study was carried out on male inmates in two phases. In the first phase self-examination and clinical examination was carried out on 2,257 male inmates. 164 suspicious cases were subjected to phase II of the study out of whom, 82 participants were screened with 1% toluidine blue and 2% Lugol's iodine followed by biopsy procedure. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity for self-examination with clinical examination was 92.2% and 96.6% respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) and positive (+LR) and negative likelihood ratio (-LR) for Toluidine Blue were 88.1%, 66.6% 97.1%, 30%, 2.63 and 0.17 respectively while for Lugol's Iodine they were 94.7%, 83.8%, 98.6%, 55.5%, 5.67 and 0.06 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of lesions at risk of malignancy and oral malignant disease by self-examination was 7.8% and by clinical examination was 6.3%. Self-examination is an effective tool in early detection of oral cancer. Use of Lugol's iodine as a screening tool for oral lesions is highly effective in inmate populations.

Effectiveness of individual and group counseling for cessation of tobacco habit amongst industrial workers in pimpri, pune--an interventional study.

BACKGROUND: In India, tobacco consumption is responsible for one of the highest rates of oral cancer in the world, the annual oral cancer incidence is steadily increasing among young tobacco users. Studies have documented efforts taken by physicians, doctors and even dentists, in the form of individual or group counseling to curb tobacco use in smoke or smokeless form. However, which one is more effective, still remains an unanswered question. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of individual and group counseling for cessation of the tobacco habit amongst industrial workers in Pune and to compare quit rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An interventional study design was selected for 150 industrial workers which were stratified randomly into three groups (control, individual and group counseling groups) and interventions were provided to individual and group counseling groups over a period of six months, which were then compared with the control group that received brief intervention at the start of the study. RESULTS: There was significant difference in the quit rates of the participants in the individual counseling group (ICG) and group counseling group (GCG) when compared at 6 months with the control counseling group (CCG). In the individual counseling group was 6% while in group counseling group it was 7.5% after six months of counseling. CONCLUSIONS: No conclusion could be drawn whether individual or group counseling were better interms of quit rates. Individual and group counseling groups were definitely better than the control group when compared at 3 and 6 months, respectively.

Qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal (OHRQoL) em pacientes usando aparelho ortodôntico fixo em Pimpri, Pune, Índia - um estudo transversal / Oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) amongst patients wearing fixed orthodontic appliance in Pimpri, Pune, India - a cross sectional study

Objective: To assess the prevalence of oral impacts on daily performances and influence of grades of malocclusion on OHRQoL in patients wearing fixed orthodontic appliance, and to assess the other potential factors (Gender, Socio-economic status, wiring technique of appliance, Operator choice) which are influencing the oral impacts in patients with fixed orthodontic appliance. Methods: 130 participants, 14-22 years old, were selected by convenience sampling from the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics of the Dental College, Pune and from three private practitioners. Only those wearing fixed orthodontic appliances since the past 6 months were included. Face to face structured interviews were conducted to collect information about impacts, using the Oral Impact on Daily Performances (OIDP). Pre-treatment casts of participants were examined to record the malocclusion status using Index of complexity, outcome and need (ICON). Comparison was done between OIDP and ICON scores, and other co-variables. Results: The prevalence of oral impacts was 86.92%. 55.35% of the participants had an impact on three or more daily performances, commonly eating, social contact, cleaning teeth, speaking (78.46%, 51.53%, 45.38%, and 40.76% respectively). Only ICON scores had an influence on OIDP scores (p less than 0.05). Conclusion: Severity of malocclusion has great impact on OHRQoL during fixed orthodontic treatment.

Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de impactos bucais no desempenho diário e a influência da gravidade da má oclusão na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal em pacientes usando aparelho fixo ortodôntico e avaliar os outros fatores potenciais (sexo, status sócio-econômico, técnica de construção do aparelho, escolha do operador), que influenciam o impacto odontológico em pacientes com aparelho ortodôntico fixo. Método: 130 participantes, de 14 a 22 anos de idade, foram selecionados por amostragem de conveniência, no Departamento de Ortodontia e Ortopedia Facial da Faculdade de Odontologia, Pune e em três consultórios privados. Apenas aqueles que utilizavam aparelhos ortodônticos fixos há pelo menos seis meses foram incluídos. Entrevistas face a face estruturadas foram conduzidas para coletar informações sobre os impactos, usando o Impacto Odontológico no Desempenho Diário, (OIDP). Modelos da fase pré-tratamento dos participantes foram avaliados para registrar a condição da má oclusão por meio do Índice de complexidade, resultado e necessidade (ICON). A comparação foi realizada entre os escores do OIDP e do ICON e outras co-variáveis. Resultados: A prevalência de impactos oral foi 86,92%. 55,35% dos participantes apresentaram um impacto em três ou mais desempenhos diários, comendo freqüentemente, contato social, limpando os dentes, falando (78,46%, 51,53%, 45,38% e 40,76%, respectivamente). Apenas os escores do ICON influenciaram nos escores do OIDP (p menor que 0,05). Conclusão: A gravidade da má oclusão tem grande impacto sobre a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal durante o tratamento ortodôntico fixo.