ABSTRACT
Background: Dental caries in young children is a serious public health problem that is highly underestimated in a country like India as it is not life threatening. The rapid westernization and urbanization in Mangaluru city has led to the inclusion of more refined sugars, frequent snacking habit and intake of more chocolates and candies in children, making them more susceptible to early childhood caries (ECC). This study intends to determine prevalence of ECC.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 240 preschool children aged 3-6 years studying in private preschools in the North Zone of Mangaluru city, Karnataka, India. Data collection was done using semi-structured and self-administered questionnaire given to the parent; examination of the child’s oral cavity was also done.Results: The prevalence of ECC in preschool children in Mangaluru City was 57.5%. A statistically significant association was seen between oral hygiene practices and father's education level (p=0.033). The oral hygiene practices were found to be satisfactory with the majority (62.1%) of them following good oral hygiene practices.Conclusions: Lack of awareness about ECC has further contributed to the increase in the prevalence and severity of the problem hence revealing the need for effective preventive methods.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular risk factors but the medication\r\nadherence rate among hypertensive patients is low. Objectives: To develop, validate and test the reliability of Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ) in hypertensive patients. Materials and methods: A\r\ncross-sectional study was conducted among hypertensive patients in Department of General Medicine\r\nfor eight months. The MAQ was prepared by referring to the previously validated questionnaires and\r\nother related medication adherence studies. It was validated by the expert committee and tested for\r\ntest-retest reliability. The medication adherence data It was validated collected from patients who have\r\nbeen receiving at least one antihypertensive medication in the past three months. Results: The mean\r\nmedication adherence score for the test and re-test are 66.25 ± 19.49 were 67.50 ± 19.19 respectively,\r\nand the test-retest reliability of MAQ was 0.979. Out of 299 patients, 180 (60.20%) were males, and\r\n118 (39.46%) were females. In our study population, most of the patients were found to have medium\r\nmedication adherence (53.84%) followed by low medication adherence (39.13%) and high medication\r\nadherence (7.02%). Conclusion: The self-reported 8-item MAQ It was validated developed and tested\r\nfor reliability in South Indian hypertensive patients.The mean medication adherence of the study population was 71.77 ± 13.94, which indicates low medication adherence to antihypertensive treatment
Introducción: La hipertensión es uno de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular más frecuentes y el índice\r\nde adhesión al tratamiento entre los pacientes hipertensos es bajo. Objetivos: Elaborar, validad y evaluar\r\nla fiabilidad del Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ) en pacientes hipertensos. Materiales y métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal durante ocho meses en pacientes hipertensos atendidos en\r\nel Departamento de Medicina General. El MAQ fue elaborado con referencia a cuestionarios validados\r\ncon anterioridad y de acuerdo con lo hallado en otros estudios relacionados con la adhesión al tratamiento farmacológico. La validación del MAQ fue realizada por el comité de expertos y analizada en\r\ntérminos de fiabilidad prueba-repetición de la prueba. La información sobre la adhesión al tratamiento\r\nfarmacológico fue recabada mediante la evaluación de los pacientes que habían recibido al menos una\r\ndroga antihipertensiva durante los últimos tres meses. Resultados: El puntaje medio correspondiente a la\r\nadhesión al tratamiento ante la prueba y la reiteración de la prueba fue 66.25 ± 19.49 y 67.5 ± 19.19,\r\nrespectivamente, y la fiabilidad del MAQ fue 0.979. De los 299 pacientes, 180 (60.2%) fueron de sexo\r\nmasculino y 118 (39.46%) fueron de sexo femenino. En nuestra población en estudio, la mayoría de los\r\npacientes presentaron un nivel intermedio de adhesión al tratamiento farmacológico (53.84%), seguido\r\npor el nivel bajo (39.13%) y elevado de adhesión al tratamiento farmacológico (7.02%). Conclusión: El\r\ncuestionario autoadministrado MAQ de ocho ítems fue creado y evaluado en términos de fiabilidad en\r\npacientes hipertensos residentes en el sur de la India. El puntaje medio correspondiente a la adhesión al\r\ntratamiento farmacológico en la población en estudio fue 71.77 ± 13.94, lo cual indica un nivel bajo de\r\nadhesión al tratamiento con drogas antihipertensivas