Curriculum structure: principles and strategy.

This report provides general guidelines for the structure of a curriculum, followed by specific advice on the principles of learning and teaching, the process of restructuring and change leadership and management. It provides examples of several educational philosophies, including vertical and horizontal integration. It discusses the use of competence, learning outcomes, level of degree and assessment and provides a number of recommendations. It does not seek to be prescriptive of time allocation to disciplines within a curriculum. Although this report has been written primarily for those who will develop an undergraduate curriculum, the information may be sufficiently generic to apply to the recent development in graduate entry ('shortened dental' or 'accelerated') courses and to postgraduate degree planning and higher education certificate or diploma courses for other dental care professionals (auxiliaries). The report may have a European bias as progress is made to converge and enhance educational standards in 29 countries with different educational approaches - a microcosm of global collaboration.

Assessment of Risk Behaviors and Factors Associated with Oral and Peri-oral Lesions in Adult HIV Patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital; Addis Ababa; Ethiopia

Background: HIV patients have several habits that can produce oral lesions. However; the association of oral habits and risk behaviors with oral and peri-oral lesions in HIV patients has not been studied in Ethiopia to date. Objective: To assess the relationship of oral and peri-oral lesions with oral habits; risk behaviors; socio-demographicfactors and clinical stages of disease among HIV infected adult Ethiopians. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted on consecutive adult ART naive HIV patients at ART clinic of Tikur Anbessa Specialized University Hospital; Addis Ababa; Ethiopia during December 2005 to July 2006. The EC-clearing house's classification and diagnostic criteria for oral lesions in HIV infection was used. Written informed consent was obtained before enrollment to the study. Results A total of 384 patients; 126 (33) males and 258 (67) females were evaluated. The mean + SD age of males was 39.9 +10.56; and females was 33.17 + 8.85 years. Fifty seven (15) of the unit of analysis were smokers; 178 (46) alcohol consumers and 217(57.1) khat chewers; use tooth sticks for dental cleaning. Of which; 132 (34.7) clean their teeth at least once a day and 302 (79) gave history of recent significant weight loss. Linear regression analysis showed association of oral and peri-oral lesions with less frequent cleaning (p=0.038; p=0.03; respectively); means of cleaning (p=0.004; p=0.001); broad-spectrum antibiotic use (p=0.019; p=0.008); advanced stage of HIV (p=0.016; p=0.001) and CD4 level below 200 Cells/mm3 (p=0.001; p=0.01). The oral lesions were seen more frequently among smokers (p=0.028); heavy alcohol consumers (p=0.041); those with age above 40 years (p=0.016) and recent weight loss (p=0.001). At the level of binary logistic regression analysis smoking (p=0.005); CD4 count less than 200 (p=0.039) and stage 3 (p=0.022) and stage 4 disease (p=0.046) were found to be independent risks while daily dental cleaning habit was found to be protective (p=0.021). Conclusion Oral and peri-oral diseases among HIV/AIDS patients and are significantly associated with correctable risk factors like smoking and poor oral cleaning habits. Lesions are also frequent with evidence of advanced HIV disease and low CD4 count. These findings demonstrate the need for oral health examination and education to improve on risk behaviors and oral care in HIV/AIDS patients

Oro-facial tumours in Ethiopian patients. Clinical analysis of 108 cases and a review of the literature.

Maxillofacial surgery is a new medical discipline in Ethiopia. Between May 1991 and December 1992, 108 patients with maxillofacial tumours were treated in our Department. These cases are analysed according to their age, sex, anatomical site, histopathological classification of benign and malignant tumours. More males (5.5:1) had malignant tumours than females. The age distribution of malignant tumours showed that most patients were under the age of 51. Histological classification of benign tumours revealed that fibromas and haemangiomas are common (7 cases each) and lymphoma, osteoma and Warthin's tumour are rare (1 case each). Almost all patients with giant cell tumour-like changes were female (11 out of 13). Two patients with Kaposi's sarcoma and 3 patients with non-specific lymphadenopathy of the neck and retroauricular lymph nodes have been proved to be HIV/AIDS infected.