Application of Health Behavioral Models in Smoking Cessation - A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Health education by health promotion is such a gauge to control tobacco epidemic at both national and multinational levels. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to systematically review the literature to identify models for health behavior change and evaluate evidence for their effectiveness in smoking cessation. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature identified four peer-reviewed studies describing two smoking cessation behavioral interventional models (transtheoretical model [TTM] and health belief model [HBM]) between 2008 and 2018. Electronic databases MEDLINE (PubMed) and Google Scholar and Trip database were carried out. There were two randomized controlled trials and two nonrandomized controlled interventional studies. There was a high degree of homogeneity of design, definition of smoking and smoking abstinence, and implementation, followed by comparison of studies. All included studies have evaluated outcome by stage of changes (component of TTM model) and therefore show the reduction of smoking rate. All studies did not have blinding of study participants, leading to a higher risk of bias in the outcome. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between TTM-based interventional group and control group in smoking cessation rate. While comparing HBM- and TTM-based behavioral counseling, there was no statistically significant difference in smoking cessation rate. CONCLUSION: Both HBM- and TTM-based trainings were found to have positive effects on both smoking cessation and progression between the stages.

Oral health-related quality of life in patients treated for oral malignancy at Kanchipuram district, India: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The modern-day onco-surgical therapy is now concerned on the overall Quality of Life after treatment of the patient. There is need to evaluate final outcome following the different combination of treatment modalities available to make better therapeutic treatment decisions. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess Oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients with oral malignancies who had undergone various treatments. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A Cross sectional study was conducted among 90 patients between October 2016 to January 2017 in private hospitals, kanchipuram, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were grouped based on the treatment they had undergone into Group I - Surgery alone, Group II - Surgery and Radiotherapy, Group III- Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and assessed for OHRQoL using the shorter version of Oral health impact profile -14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive analysis of socio demographic variables and OHIP 14 was performed using Chi-square test and one way ANOVA. RESULTS: Among the 90 participants, 43.3% belonged to upper lower class and 38.3% to lower class. Buccal mucosa (58.9%) was found to be the most frequent site. Among the clinical staging, Stage II (33.33%) oral cancer was more prevalent. No statistically significant differences in the OHIP mean score for Groups, I, II, III. Among the domains functional limitation was significantly different in the three groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with oral malignancies who had been treated surgically alone had better Quality of life when compared to the combined treatment modalities.

Validity of Carrea's index in stature estimation among two racial populations in India.

BACKGROUND: Stature is considered to be one of the "big fours" in forensic anthropology. Though Carrea's Index was published as early as 1920 it has not been validated in any other population apart from the Brazilians. AIM: The present study was conducted to validate Carrea's index in stature estimation in two different racial populations in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out in a sample of 100 persons comprising of 25 Aryan males, 25 Aryan females, 25 Dravidian males, and 25 Dravidian females in the age group of 18-30 years. The maximum and minimum stature of all individuals was estimated by Carrea's Index. The actual stature was measured by an anthropometer. The estimated stature was compared with the actual stature and percentage of success was calculated. RESULTS: The Carrea's Index was found to be valid in predicting the stature of 80% Dravidian and 84% Aryan males, the difference being statistically insignificant (Fisher Exact test-0.16; P = 0.99). The stature of 76% of females in both Aryan and Dravidian races was successfully predicted by Carrea's index. Regression analysis showed that the minimum estimated height was more valid in estimating the stature of Aryan and Dravidian population. CONCLUSION: The validity to use Carrea's index in Aryan and Dravidian population was evaluated and found to be valid.