Widening Access: what do dental school websites signal to prospective students?

Introduction Widening Access (WA) policies aim to ensure that a professional workforce reflects the community that it serves by facilitating the admission of applicants from under-represented demographics. WA has not been extensively studied in UK dental education. Website discourses are an important element in students' higher education choices and have the potential to engage those who might be under-represented.Methods Critical discourse analysis was used to investigate contents of the 16 UK dental school webpages in relation to WA, based on a previous study within medical education. Data were contextualised through identification of drivers and levers, as well as warrants of WA.Results Discourses emphasising social mobility, and the resultant advancement within social hierarchy of an individual, dominated the narrative rationalising WA as an initiative. WA was depicted as a mechanism to support applicants of high academic ability and exhibiting commitment to studying dentistry but who were unable to show their true potential due to their underprivileged backgrounds. This presentation portrayed dental schools as generous establishments, selectively granting career-advancement opportunities to disadvantaged students. Discourses on the benefits of WA for patient care and workforce diversification were largely absent.Conclusions Discourses representing WA on websites of UK dental schools are limited and do not portray applicants from deprived backgrounds or under-represented groups as individuals bringing unique positive benefits to dentistry and patient care. We encourage dental schools to consider alternate messages for attracting applicants from under-represented demographics.

Mouth Cancer Awareness in General Population: Results from Grampian Region of Scotland, United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this project was to determine the level of mouth cancer awareness and to investigate the associated factors in a United Kingdom (UK) general population sample. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult Dental Health Survey (2010) was conducted in a sample of 3,353 adult residents in the Grampian region of the UK (adjusted participation rate 58%). Participants completed a questionnaire consisting of questions on oral health, health behaviour, quality of life and cancer awareness. RESULTS: Overall, 81% of participants were aware of mouth cancer. This was associated with younger age, higher levels of education and better general health. Current smokers and alcohol drinkers were more aware of mouth cancer. When asked about risk factors for mouth cancer, the following were identified by the respondents: smoking (84%), poor oral hygiene (60%), drinking alcohol heavily (59%), poor diet (37%), stress (15%), being overweight (6%), drinking hot liquids (5%), eating spicy food (3%), using mouthwash (2%) and kissing someone (1%). Smokers were more likely to identify smoking as a risk factor for mouth cancer. Similarly, those who consumed alcohol almost daily were more likely to identify heavy alcohol drinking as a risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of mouth cancer is high in respondents from the general population, and participants were able to identify the most important risk factors. Knowledge of tobacco and alcohol as risk factors was highest amongst those exposed to them. The study proposed that the prevention strategies should focus not only on increasing knowledge, but also on changing health behaviour.

Can Alcohol Intake from Mouthwash be Measured in Epidemiological Studies? Development and Validation of Mouthwash Use Questionnaire with Particular Attention to Measuring Alcohol Intake from Mouthwash.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the mouthwash use questionnaire to determine the lifetime exposure to alcohol from mouthwash and verify that it was suitable for use in general population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were available from three consecutive studies, all collecting information on mouthwash use. In addition, supermarkets and online stores were screened for the brands of mouthwash they sold. Alcohol content of mouthwash was identified from various sources, including laboratory measurements. Alcohol-containing mouthwash use was converted to glasses of wine equivalent. RESULTS: Mouthwash was used by 62% of the participants, and the main benefits reported were refreshment of bad breath (75%), elimination of bacteria (68%) and reduction of plaque formation (47%). Majority mouthwashes used by the participants contained alcohol (61%). Life-time exposure from alcohol in mouthwash was relatively small for most of the study participants: 79% had rinsed for less than one year with alcohol equivalent of one glass of wine per day. There was substantial agreement in mouthwash reporting between different occasions (Kappa > 0.62). CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire can be used to investigate mouthwash use in the general population and to measure alcohol intake from mouthwash.

Mouthwash use in general population: results from adult dental health survey in grampian, Scotland.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of mouthwash use and to investigate the associated factors in general population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An Adult Dental Health Survey was conducted on 3,022 residents of Grampian region of Scotland (adjusted participation rate 58.2%). Participants received a questionnaire consisting of questions on oral health and behavioural factors. RESULTS: The majority of participants (38.1%) have never used mouthwash, 17.5% used mouthwash less than once a month, 19.4% used mouthwash once every few days and 25.1% used mouthwash daily. Prevalence of use decreased with age (P < 0.001). Woman were more likely to use mouthwash than men (P = 0.004). Mouthwash use decreased with decrease in the level of deprivation (P < 0.001). Never-smokers were less likely to use mouthwash (40.3%) compared to smokers (53.1%) or those who stopped smoking (46.5%) (P < 0.001). Mouthwash was used by smaller proportion of people drinking alcohol on daily basis (36.6%), than by abstainers (42.2%) (P = 0.012). There was a positive relationship between flossing or brushing pattern and mouthwash use (P < 0.001). There was statistically significant relationship between mouthwash use and reasons for the last dental visit (P = 0.009). When compared to healthy individuals, mouthwash was used by higher proportion of people reporting that they had gum disease (P = 0.001), ulcers (P = 0.001), oral infections or swelling (P = 0.002) or other problems (P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Mouthwash use in general population is associated with socio-demographic, health and behavioural factors.