Correlation of self-esteem with oral hygiene behaviour and oral health status among adult dental patients.

Background: Self-esteem is a psychological construct that has been consistently linked to general and oral health. However, most studies interpolating self-esteem and oral health behaviour have been focused on children and adolescents, and there is a dearth of scientific literature on adults. Hence, this study, that is aimed to correlate self-esteem with oral hygiene behaviour and oral health status in Telugu-speaking adult dental patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving adult dental patients who were 35-44 years of age and visited the Government Dental Hospital in Hyderabad city, India, was conducted. Self-esteem was assessed using the Telugu-translated version of the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, oral health behaviour was determined using the Oral Hygiene Behaviour Index and oral health assessment was performed using the World Health Organization Dentition status, the modified Community Periodontal Index and the Loss of Attachment. Results: A total of 456 patients were included in this study. Most of the participants reported low self-esteem, with a mean score of 11.8 ± 2.7. Patients with primary school education reported higher self-esteem scores than those with high school and university education (p = 0.0001). Furthermore, low Oral Hygiene Behaviour Index scores (64.9%) in the study population and high Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth scores in females (5.7 ± 4.4; p = 0.09) were noted. None of the variables (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth scores, Oral Hygiene Behaviour, gingival bleeding and Loss of Attachment) were significantly correlated with self-esteem. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that younger age, lower educational level and presence of dental caries resulted in higher odds for high self-esteem (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The findings indicated a significant association between self-esteem and oral health. Indivi-duals with dental caries had significantly higher odds for high self-esteem. Thus, this study emphasises the relevance of psychosocial factors, such as self-esteem, as the mediator of oral health.

Psychometric properties of the Telugu version of Rosenberg Self-esteem scale (RSES-T).

Background: The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES) is the most commonly used tool for measuring global self-esteem. Till date, RSES has been translated into different languages and the reports are good for their validity and reliability. Telugu being the fourth most spoken language in India, it is timely to translate and validate the Telugu version of RSES. The aim of this study thus is to assess the psychometric properties of the Telugu version of Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES-T). Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: This study was carried out to assess the psychometric properties of RSES-T among undergraduate students of a dental college. For this purpose, the English version of RSES was translated into Telugu and was administered to the participants along with the revised English version of Self-Liking/Self-Competence Scale (SL/SC-R) to evaluate the construct validity. The internal consistency of RSES-T was assessed using Cronbach´s α and the temporal stability was tested by test-retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the underlying dimensional structure of the questionnaire by assessing the cor-relation of RSES-T with SL/SC-R. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a positive one-factor structure with Model 3 showing the best fit to data. Internal consistency for RSES-T was found to be good with Cronbach's α of 0.82 at follow-up and the test-retest reliability was found to be satisfactory (0.42) after a two weeks' interval. Furthermore, the item-wise mean score differences showed higher scores for male students than females. Likewise, the item-total correlation of RSES-T showed positive correlation with scores varying from 0.17 to 0.69 at the follow-up. Conclusion: The Telugu version of RSES exhibited a unidimensional structure and showed good psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency, construct validity and reliability. Hence, these findings provide empirical support to evaluate global self-esteem among Telugu speaking population in future.

Periodontal status of HIV-positive patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the periodontal status of HIV positive individuals and to compare it with age-and gender-matched controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study comprised fifty-two HIV positive individuals and fifty-two controls. OHI-S and PI were recorded by a single pre-trained and pre-calibrated examiner. RESULTS: Based on antiretroviral therapy use, mean OHI-S was higher among HIV positive females undergoing therapy. A significant gender difference was observed in the PI score among those on antiretroviral therapy, with females having a lower score (p = 0.04). Also, significant gender difference was observed in the mean PI score among HIV positive individuals, with males having a higher score. CONCLUSION: There was a significant difference in the overall mean OHI-S score among HIV positive individuals and controls (p = 0.03). However, no significant difference was observed when the overall PI score was calculated for both groups (p = 0.95).

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Organ Donation among Indian Dental Students.

BACKGROUND: Of the overall 9.5 million deaths annually in India, nearly 100,000 are due to organ failure. To save and extend lives, organ donation and organ transplantation have become the only hope. Health care professionals (HCPs) are a key element in facilitating cadaveric organ donation process. OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding organ donation among undergraduate dental students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 298 undergraduate dental students of the Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Hyderabad, India. A 27-item self-administered questionnaire, which assessed the levels of knowledge (Q1-13), positive attitude (Q14-24) and practice habits (Q25-27) regarding organ donation with dichotomous scale (Yes/No). RESULTS: As compared to males, females reported better mean±SD scores in knowledge (8.22±1.51) and practice (0.91±0.8); higher mean±SD attitude scores (8.55±1.56) were reported among males (p<0.001). While second year dental students had higher scores for their knowledge (8.55±1.56) and practice (1.02±0.44) compared to other year of training, third year students showed a significant higher mean attitude score (1.73±1.17) (p=0.02). Hindus and Muslims scored significantly lower mean knowledge, attitude and practice habits compared to others (Christians, Jains and Athesists) (p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between mean knowledge, attitude, and practice habits. CONCLUSION: There are an average level of knowledge and low levels of positive attitude and practice habits among studied dental students towards organ donation and transplantation.

Influence of cholestyramine resin administration on single dose sulindac pharmacokinetics.

Cholestyramine, a nonabsorbable anion exchange resin, has been reported to bind concomitantly administered drugs and decrease their bioavailability. The objective of the study was to determine cholestyramine effect on the plasma concentrations of sulindac and its sulfide metabolite following concurrent and staggered (sulindac 3 hours before cholestyramine) dosing. Six healthy volunteers participated in an open-label, 3-way crossover study. Subjects received 400 mg sulindac orally followed by serial blood sampling for sulindac and sulindac sulfide plasma concentrations over a 24-hour period. During the concurrent phase, 4 g of cholestyramine was coadministered resulting in a decrease (p < 0.05) in the area under the curve (AUC) for sulindac compared to sulindac alone (7.11 +/- 3.25 micrograms-h/ml vs 31.65 +/- 7.94 micrograms-h/ml respectively). Also, the sulindac sulfide AUC decreased (p < 0.05) to 7.26 +/- 4.37 micrograms-h/ml coadministration of both drugs compared to 44.69 +/- 11.81 micrograms-h/ml when sulindac is given alone. When the same doses of each drug were given 3 hours apart, the AUC for sulindac (17.88 +/- 3.69 micrograms-h/ml) and its sulfide metabolite (20.12 +/- 7.46 micrograms-h/ml) were still significantly decreased (p < 0.05) when compared to sulindac given alone (31.65 +/- 7.94 micrograms-h/ml for sulindac and 44.69 +/- 11.81 micrograms-h/ml for sulindac sulfide). Based on the lower AUCs for sulindac and sulindac sulfide, separating sulindac and cholestyramine by 3-hour intervals did not prevent the interaction. It is likely that the enterohepatic recycling features of sulindac may not prevent the interaction with cholestyramine even when the 2 drugs are staggered.

Oral manifestations in HIV/AIDS infected patients from India.

OBJECTIVES: To assess types and prevalence of HIV-related oral lesions among HIV-infected individuals in south India and to correlate common oral findings with co-morbidities, gender, age and medication. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and one patients with HIV infection or AIDS at infectious diseases units of Attavar Hospital, Mangalore, and medical wards of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, were selected. Sociodemographic information was obtained using a structured questionnaire. Oral lesions were diagnosed according to the presumptive criteria of EEC-Clearinghouse Classification. Clinical history was retrieved from patient's medical records. RESULTS: Erythematous candidiasis (44.5%), melanotic hyperpigmentaion (34.6%) and xerostomia (29.7%) were among the most common oral manifestations. A significant association was found between oral candidiasis and advanced immunosuppression (P < 0.05). Oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) was predominant in individuals <35 years (P < 0.05). Melanotic hyperpigmentation was significantly associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (P < 0.05). OHL was more frequent in patients with HIV-associated tuberculosis. Linear gingival erythema was more predominant in females. CONCLUSIONS: Oral hairy leukoplakia showed a positive relationship with patients younger than 35 years. Oral candidiasis can act as a marker for immunosuppression. Angular cheilitis was predominant in the symptomatic stage.