Protocol to measure validity and reliability of colorectal, breast, cervical and lung cancer screening questions from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey: Methodology and design.

Previous studies demonstrate that self-reports of mammography screening for breast cancer and colonoscopy screening for colorectal cancer demonstrate concordance, based on adherence to screening guidelines, with electronic medical records (EMRs) in over 90% of those interviewed, as well as high sensitivity and specificity, and can be used for monitoring our Healthy People goals. However, for screening tests for cervical and lung cancers, and for various sub-populations, concordance between self-report and EMRs has been noticeably lower with poor sensitivity or specificity. This study aims to test the validity and reliability of lung, colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer screening questions from the 2021 and 2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). We present the protocol for a study designed to measure the validity and reliability of the NHIS cancer screening questions compared to EMRs from four US-based healthcare systems. We planned a randomized trial of a phone- vs web-based survey with NHIS questions that were previously revised based on extensive cognitive interviewing. Our planned sample size will be 1576 validity interviews, and 1260 interviews randomly assigned at 1 or 3 months after the initial interview. We are enrolling people eligible for cancer screening based on age, sex, and smoking history per US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations. We will evaluate question validity using concordance, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and report-to-records ratio. We further are randomizing participants to complete a second survey 1 vs 3 months later to assess question reliability. We suggest that typical measures of concordance may need to be reconsidered in evaluating cancer screening questions.

Well-armed is well started: A population-based study to assess risk stratification in potentially premalignant oral epithelial lesions.

BACKGROUND: The association between potentially premalignant oral epithelial lesions (PPOEL), oral squamous cell carcinoma and its higher incidence in South-East Asian population due to the use of arecanut, pan, slaked lime and tobacco is well known. The study was carried out in urban and rural population of Bengaluru, Karnataka, to assess and correlate the pattern of habit, clinical presentation and cytological grading of PPOELs, attempting at identifying the main arms associated with risk of malignant transformation. AIMS: Assessment of history, clinical presentation of PPOELs, co-relate with cytological grades and escalate to binary risk assessment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and fourteen cytological smears received at the Department from screening camps were stained with Papanicolaou and hematoxylin-eosin stains and correlated with the clinical data. RESULTS/STATISTICS: Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. 38% lie between 21 and 30 years, 76.3% males, 81 cases involved buccal mucosa with 51.1% Grade II cytosmear, 53.5% chewing tobacco habit, 10 cases involved multiple sites with 60% Grade II cytosmear and 6 cases showed Grade III cytosmear. Based on clinical risk factors and cytological grading, 15.3% were grouped under high risk lesions as against 5.4% when only cytological grading was considered. CONCLUSION: The incidence of PPOELs is increasing in young males with chewing tobacco mainly in buccal mucosa associated with habit. Biopsy and definitive treatment is necessary when the lesions are red, nonhomogeneous, seen in multiple sites and concomitant lesions with higher grades of dysplasia. The use of cytosmears in screening camps helps to assess, affirm and stress on biopsy on higher dysplasia grades as biopsy is not an acceptable norm in camps.

The tobacco trade and trail in Karnataka.

CONTEXT: Tobacco use is a major public health challenge in India with 275 million adults consuming different tobacco products. Despite innumerable laws, the overall picture of the current system is not clear and the menace of tobacco persists. What does it take to stop this menace? The present study made an attempt to throw some light on the prevailing discrepancy in the current system. AIMS: The aim of the study was to explore the knowledge and attitude of people involved in growth and sales of tobacco. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative research was aimed at farmers growing tobacco in Mysore district and vendors selling tobacco in Bangalore. Snowball sampling technique was used to select the farmers. Simple random sampling technique was used to shortlist vendors selling tobacco products in Bangalore. Data were collected using semistructured questionnaire through interviews which were recorded using an audio recorder. RESULTS: Inductive analysis was conducted for the present study and the responses were divided into three categories, that is, awareness of laws, compliance to laws, and opinion regarding banning tobacco. Ninety percent of the growers and all the tobacco vendors (100%) were aware of the laws governing them; however, the compliance was poor in both the populations (32% and 20%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of law is an area that needs to be strengthened. Violations of these laws are not adequately reported; this matter should be dealt with. It was seen that the system which creates the laws itself promotes the growth and thereby the distribution of the tobacco products.

New Vision for Improving the Oral Health Education of Visually Impaired Children- A Non Randomized Control Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Visually impaired people have poorer oral hygiene when compared to others. Therefore, there is a necessity for individual training by making awareness in oral care and plaque control so as to improve their oral hygiene. AIM: The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of oral health innovative educative method among visually impaired children of Bengaluru city of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A non-randomized control trial was conducted among 40 visually impaired individuals attending special school for blind. The study was conducted for a duration of six months. Baseline data regarding oral health knowledge, attitude and practices was obtained through a questionnaire in Braille and oral plaque assessment was done using Silness and Loe plaque index (1964). Music based brushing technique, cast models and an oral health education talk and booklet in Braille was delivered stressing on importance of oral health. The results of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) before and after health education were analysed using Chi-square test with SPSS version 22.0. RESULTS: The overall KAP was lower in the preintervention period among the visually impaired children with mean score of 6.98 while after the modified oral health education session, it was increased to a mean score of 14.68 which was statistically significant at p<0.001. There was a significant change in the oral plaque scores with 80% of the children having fair scores in the preintervention period to 30% in the postintervention period. CONCLUSION: This oral health education module showed good results which can be implemented to effectively increase the awareness about dental health.

Comparative Evaluation of Antibacterial and Adhesive Properties of Chitosan Modified Glass Ionomer Cement and Conventional Glass Ionomer Cement: an In vitro Study.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have reported the incorporation of modifiers with conventional Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) to enhance its antibacterial effect. One such modification being the addition of Chitosan (CH). However, these modifiers might affect the physical properties of the restorations. AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of modifying the liquid phase of conventional GIC with 10% v/v CH on the antibacterial properties and adhesion to enamel in comparison to conventional GIC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The liquid of commercially available restorative GIC (Fuji IX, GC Industrial Corporation, Japan) was modified with 10% v/v CH solution (Everest Biotech, Bengaluru). GIC powders were mixed with the unmodified and the CH-modified liquids at the desired powder/liquid ratio. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to determine the setting reaction between the conventional and CH modified GIC liquid with GIC powder. For evaluation of the antibacterial properties, biofilms of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) were formed on the GIC discs and characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). For the characterization of the adhesive properties, the unmodified and CH-modified GICs were bonded to the enamel surface and the microshear bond strength (µSBs) was evaluated. Student's paired t-test was used to compare the micro-shear bond strength between CH modified GIC and unmodified GIC. RESULTS: Modification with 10% v/v CH solution improved the antibacterial properties of GIC against S. mutans in terms of resistance to biofilm formation which was assessed using SEM. Microshear bond strength of CH modified GIC was 85.40 MPa compared to 46.94 MPa of conventional GIC. This difference was found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Modifying the liquid phase of a conventional GIC with 10% v/v CH significantly improves the antibacterial property of GIC as well as its adhesion to enamel.

Determinants of Tobacco Use and Prevalence of Oral Precancerous Lesions in Cab Drivers in Bengaluru City, India.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco is a most important risk factor for various types of cancer as well as some noncommunicable disease. Around 34.6% of Indian population consume tobacco. The tobacco consumption is higher in some vulnerable population such as drivers, daily wage laborers, and policemen. Tobacco consumption is known to cause oral cancers, and screening for oral cancer in these individuals is known to reduce mortality from cancer. The study was designed to assess the determinants of tobacco use and the prevalence of oral precancerous lesions in cab drivers. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study among cab drivers at prepaid taxi counters in Bengaluru city. A total of 450 cab drivers were enrolled in the study, of which 225 cab drivers were interviewed during morning hours and remaining half at night time using a semi-structured questionnaire. All were screened for oral cancer/precancerous lesions. RESULTS: Nearly 70.88% of cab drivers were consuming tobacco in any form. Long working hours, working at night, and family members consuming tobacco were significant risk factors for tobacco use among cab drivers. Forty-eight drivers were detected to have oral precancerous lesions. CONCLUSIONS: It was very evident that long hours of driving and infrequent shifts played a greater role in acquiring the habit. Behavioral counseling and new laws need to be formed to limit the working hours in drivers to have an effective tobacco control.