Tobacco Cessation Behavior Among Smoking and Smokeless Form Tobacco Users in the Indigenous Population of Ernakulam, India.

PURPOSE: Tobacco usage is the leading preventable cause of death in the world today. The tribes in Kuttampuzha region are the aboriginal tribal community found predominantly in the south Indian state of Kerala, India, and this study was conducted to identify tobacco cessation behavior in smoking and smokeless form of tobacco users among them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional design survey was conducted among 516 indigenous community people of Kuttampuzha area of Kerala, India, for the outcome of quit attempts made by the current tobacco users. The sociodemographic variables and tobacco user data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using Open Source R Software. RESULTS: When considered the quit attempts among current smoking and smokeless form of tobacco users, a statistically significant difference was found in subjects who had quit attempts of 1 day or longer in the previous year (P = 0.01) than who were in groups of quit attempts more than 30 days or more than 6 months. Smokers had higher probability predicted of attempting quitting in comparison to smokeless form of tobacco users (odds ratio [OR] = 1.24, confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-1.39). The probability of doing a quit attempt was higher among users of tobacco who were having a comparatively higher socioeconomic status (OR = 1.30, CI = 1.12-1.48). CONCLUSION: This study provides useful insights into different determinants for quit attempts of tobacco users in South India, exploring the sociodemographic features of attempts to quit. International prevention and cessation initiatives will need to be customized to the social-cultural context of these primitive tribal areas of Kuttampuzha, Kerala, to help in prevention and cessation of tobacco usage.

Assessment of Enamel Surface Microhardness with different Fluoride Varnishes-An In Vitro Study.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the microhardness of the enamel surface after fluoride varnish application. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thymol of 0.1% in distilled water was used to store the collected healthy sixty teeth. The samples were divided into three groups randomly as per the different applica -tion of fluoride varnish. Group A: Fluor protector varnish (FIV) application, group B: Duraphat varnish application and group C: Bifluorid 10 varnish application. The present study followed the pH cycling protocol. Microhardness tester was used to test the microhardness of enamel surface and was expressed as micro-hardness measurements of Vickers hardness number (VHN) which was performed at baseline, on the 3rd day andon 7th day. RESULTS: At baseline, group A samples mean SMH value was 230.64 ± 12.32 which was slightly more than group B with 229.45 ± 10.22 and group C with 230.10 ± 11.45. There was no significant difference showed with the analysis of variance between the groups. On the 3rd day, there was a slight increase in the mean SMH in group A with 235.39 ± 6.44 and no significant difference between the groups was seen statistically. On the 7th day, the group A showed high SMH value of 262.20 ± 4.89 compared to other groups which didn't show a significantly high statistical difference. CONCLUSION: On conclusion, post-application of fluorprotector varnish showed higher enamel surface microhardness compared to Duraphat and Bifluorid 10 varnishes. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In young children, fluoride varnishes are effectively used as a noninvasive, anti-caries agent in the treatment of initial caries. Therefore, in routine dental practice, the knowledge about different fluoride varnishes is of importance.

Factors affecting oral cancer awareness in a high-risk population in India.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the awareness of oral cancer, its risk factors and to estimate the prevalence of risk factors in a high-risk semi-urban population in India. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was carried out by house-to-house interview on a single day by 120 health volunteers. The data were analyzed using SPSS 11.0 software for links between prevalence of risk factors and oral cancer awareness, as well as other confounding variables. RESULTS: A total of 1885 persons participated in the survey. Of the surveyed population, 86% had heard about oral cancer and 32% knew someone with oral cancer. Sixty-two percent of the subjects correctly identified the causes; this included 77% of the subjects who identifying smoking, 64% alcohol and 79% pan chewing as a cause of oral cancer. More than 42% believed that poor oral health could lead to oral cancer and 53% thought that oral cancer is an incurable disease. Forty percent of males and 14% females had one or more high-risk habits. It was observed that the awareness was proportional to the education level (p<0.001) and inversely proportional to the prevalence of risk factor habits (p<0.001). Eighty-two percent of the smokers, 75% of the tobacco chewers and 66% of those who consumed alcohol were aware that their habits could lead to oral cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the awareness of oral cancer in this high-risk population was satisfactory, though certain gaps exist, pointing to a need for targeted health education and risk factor cessation counseling.