Role of ehealth literacy, learning styles, and patterns of web-based e-content access for seeking health information among dental university students in Vadodara, India.

BACKGROUND: Individual's learning style, ehealth literacy, and preferred web-based e-content and channel to access information determines how one makes sense of health information on the Internet. Understanding these dynamics will help design suitable e-contents and choose appropriate channels for effective health communication. To assess the relationship between ehealth literacy, learning styles, and web-based e-content accessed for receiving health information among dental college students in Vadodara, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among all consenting Undergraduate Students (UGs), interns, and Postgraduate Students (PGs) of a dental college in Vadodara, India, from July to August 2022. The questionnaire used to collect data included questions on general information, eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS), Visual Auditory Reading/Writing Kinaesthetic (VARK) Questionnaire, and preferences of web-based e-content for receiving health information. Completely filled questionnaires were subject to statistical analysis: descriptive (means and percentages) and inferential (analysis of variance tests and odds ratio). RESULTS: 285 out of 380 students filled out the questionnaires completely (75% response rate). All reported using Internet for receiving health information. Majority preferred textual ehealth message (71%) and access websites (80%). Students were quadmodal (98.%) and trimodal (2%) learners who learned predominantly through kinaesthetic methods (46%). Mean eHEALS score of the group was 30.27 ± 3.41. There was a statistically significant association between preference for sharing channels and being a kinaesthetic learner (OR = 1.6; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Participants were multi-modal, predominantly kinaesthetic learners. The association between the preference for video-sharing channels and being kinaesthetic learner suggests the need and scope for demonstrative and interactive video-based health educational tools, with the endorsement of health authorities based on health policy.

A qualitative research analysis of gender-based parities and disparities at work place experienced by female dentists of Vadodara, India.

AIM: To assess the gender-based parities and disparities at work place experienced by female dentists of Vadodara, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In-depth face-to-face qualitative semi-structured interviews in English were conducted among 12 female dentists of Vadodara. Female dentists working with one/more male colleague or auxiliary were selected through purposive sampling. Interviews were conducted as per Kvale's principles and recorded using a digital voice recorder. Transcribed data was analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: The recurring themes identified were: (a) Striking work-family balance (b) Dependence on male authority for instating work discipline (c) Male dentists' hostility to "woman in power" concept (d) Male dentists' superiority in technical skills (e) privileges for women dentists. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to improve the work environment of women dentists. Social support, sensitivity among male colleagues, and generous institutional policies will enable increased contribution from women to the profession.

The effect of oil pulling with rice bran oil, sesame oil, and chlorhexidine mouth rinsing on halitosis among pregnant women: A comparative interventional study.

CONTEXT: Rice bran oil, owing to its potential antioxidant benefits, could be an effective and novel alternative to sesame oil for oil pulling. As it is safe and a growingly popular edible oil, it may be acceptable during pregnancy, especially in the Indian context where women may be hesitant to use chemical plaque control methods for preventing halitosis. AIMS: The present study was conducted to compare the effects of oil pulling with rice bran oil, oil pulling with sesame oil, and oil pulling with chlorhexidine mouth rinsing on reducing halitosis among pregnant women. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Thirty pregnant women who attended the Gynecology Outpatient Department (OPD) of Muslim Medical Hospital, Haran Khana Road, Pani Gate, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, were recruited in the present randomized double-blind interventional study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eligible pregnant women individuals who gave consent for the study were randomly allocated to receive the interventions under investigation. Halitosis was measured at baseline and after 14 days of intervention using TANITA breath checker HC-212M-BL. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data entry was done in Microsoft Excel 2007, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 17. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to interpret the differences in baseline and postintervention halitosis levels. One-way ANOVA was done to compare the mean reduction in halitosis scores of the three intervention groups. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant reduction in the grades of halitosis at baseline and 14 days after intervention for all the three groups. There was no statistically significant difference between chlorhexidine mouth rinsing, oil pulling with sesame oil, and oil pulling with rice bran oil in halitosis reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Rice bran oil when used in oil pulling was effective in reducing halitosis. It performed comparably and marginally superior to other agents tested in the study when change in halitosis postintervention was considered.