Misconduct in Biomedical Research: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the nature and prevalence of misconduct in self and nonself-reported biomedical research. Materials and Methods: A detailed review of previously conducted studies was conducted through PubMed Central, PubMed, and Google Scholar using MeSH terms: "scientific misconduct," "Publications," "plagiarism," and "authorship," and keywords: scientific misconduct, gift authorship, ghost authorship, and duplicate publication. MeSH terms and keywords were searched in combinations using Boolean operators "AND" and "OR." Of 7771 articles that appeared in the search, 107 were selected for inspection. The articles were screened for their quality and inclusion criteria. Finally, 16 articles were selected for meta-analysis. Data analysis was conducted using an Open-Source, Open Meta Analyst, statistical software using the package "metaphor." Results: Plagiarism, data fabrication, and falsification were prevalent in most articles reviewed. The prevalence of research misconduct for plagiarism was 4.2% for self-reported and 27.9% for nonself-reported studies. Data fabrication was 4.5% in self-reported and 21.7% in nonself-reported studies. Data falsification was 9.7% in self-reported and 33.4% in nonself-reported studies, with significant heterogeneity. Conclusion: This meta-analysis gives a pooled estimate of the misconduct in research done in biomedical fields such as medicine, dental, pharmacy, and others across the world. We found that there is an alarming rate of misconduct in recent nonself-reported studies, and they were higher than that in the self-reported studies.

Comparative evaluation of retention and cariostatic effect of glass ionomer, hydrophobic & hydrophilic resin-based sealants: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of hydrophilic resin-based versus hydrophobic resin-based and glass-ionomer pit and fissure sealants. METHODS: The review was registered with Joanna Briggs Institute and followed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. PubMed, Google Scholar, Virtual Health Library, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from 2009-2019 using appropriate keywords. We included randomized controlled trials and randomized split-mouth trials conducted among 6-13-year-old children. The quality of included trials was assessed using modified Jadad criteria and risk of bias using guidelines specified by Cochrane. GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) guidelines were used to assess the overall quality of studies. We used the random-effects model for meta-analysis. Relative risk (RR) and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated & heterogeneity was tested using I² statistic. RESULTS: Six randomized clinical trials and five split-mouth trials met the inclusion criteria. The outlier augmenting the heterogeneity was omitted. Based on very-low to low-quality evidence, loss of hydrophilic resin-based sealants was less likely as compared to glass-ionomer fissure sealants (4 trials at 6 months; RR = 0.59; CI = 0.40-0.86), while it was similar or slightly lower than hydrophobic resin-based sealants (6 trials at 6 months; RR = 0.96; CI = 0.89-1.03); (6 trials at 12 months; RR = 0.79; CI = 0.70-0.89); (2 trials at 18 months; RR = 0.77; CI = 0.48-0.25). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that retention of hydrophilic resin-based sealants is better than glass ionomer sealants but similar to hydrophobic resin-based sealants. However, higher-quality evidence is necessary to underpin the outcomes.

Knowledge, attitude and practices among sanitation workers regarding SARS-CoV-2 prevention - A cross-sectional study.

Aim: : To evaluate knowledge, attitude and practices among sanitation workers regarding SARS-CoV-2 prevention during hospital waste management. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 426 sanitation workers using an interviewer-administered questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of the study participants. The unpaired t-test and Spearman's correlation were used to find the mean difference and correlation among different study variables. Statistical significance was set at 5% (confidence interval 95%). Results: The mean knowledge score of the participants was found to be 7.15 ± 2.02. About 93.7% of the participants had good knowledge about COVID-19. About 64.3% of the participants strongly agreed that COVID-19 is a life-threatening disease. Regarding practices, a majority reported (69.7%) that they washed hands frequently using water and soap. A significant positive correlation was found between knowledge, attitude, practices and education, indicating a favourable work environment in hospital settings. Conclusion: More than half of the sanitation workers and housekeeping staff had adequate knowledge of COVID-19, and their attitudes were found to be favourable. They also had satisfactory practices, which may be a result of the prompt training and sensitization of sanitation workers by the authorities. Clinical Relevance: Sanitation workers come under the essential services category and their knowledge, attitude and practices needed to be assessed and updated in the concerned area for their protection and better management of biomedical waste, especially in the current pandemic situation.

Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among dental students and faculty members regarding COVID-19 Vaccines in Dental Colleges of Haryana, India - A cross-sectional study.

Aim: To assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among dental students and faculty members regarding COVID-19 vaccines in dental colleges in Haryana, India. Objectives: To assess knowledge level, attitudes, and beliefs differences among BDS, MDS students and faculty members and find association between knowledge and COVID-19 vaccine inoculation among study participants. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among students and faculty members of dental colleges in Haryana, India. Data collection was done via an online questionnaire based on questions to assess the knowledge, attitude and beliefs regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Results: The present study comprised of 270 study participants, where majority, i.e., 81.5% have reported COVID-19 vaccine inoculation. The mean knowledge score of the participants was reported to be 5.54 ± 2.19. A significant difference was found in the mean knowledge score of faculty members (7.81 ± 1.69), MDS (6.72 ± 1.49), and BDS (4.39 ± 1.68) students. COVID-19 vaccine inoculation was found to be significantly associated with average knowledge score of participants (OR = 6.1, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Dental professionals have an adequate degree of knowledge and attitude level regarding COVID-19 vaccines and are generally optimistic about resolving the pandemic situation with the immunization.

Effectiveness of tobacco cessation counselling and behavioural changes Using Multi Theory Model (MTM): A follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Effective tobacco cessation programs using advice and counselling, have helped a substantial proportion of people quit smoking. Effectiveness of this tobacco cessation counselling needs to be evaluated. AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of tobacco cessation counselling and behavioural changes using Multi Theory Model (MTM). SETTING AND DESIGN: A non-randomised uncontrolled trial was conducted on 100 tobacco users visiting dental college in Bangalore. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A 28 item questionnaire multi-theory model (MTM) for health behaviour was administered at baseline, 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks after providing standardized tobacco cessation counselling (TCC) intervention at baseline. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were analysed and comparison were made using repeated measure ANOVA and Bonferroni adjustment (p < 0.05). RESULTS: A total of 64 participants completed the 12 week follow-up. The mean age was 44.3 ± 10.1 years and 75.8% were males. There was significantly increase in mean MTM behaviour change score from baseline (32.78 ± 4.8) to 2 weeks (52.37 ± 5.27), 6 weeks (49.81 ± 4.34) and 12 weeks (48.7 ± 3.50) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There was increase in MTM model scores in subsequent follow up suggesting behavioural changes and overall effectiveness of the Tobacco cessation counselling (TCC) among tobacco users.

Association between Parental Behavior and Child's Oral Health among 3-5-year-old Children in Bengaluru City.

AIM: Parental behavior is known to influence the well-being and disease outcomes in children. The environment which they create for the child can influence oral health behaviors and status. Hence, the present study aimed to determine the association of parental behavior with oral health status among 3-5-year-old children in Bengaluru city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 children aged 3-5 years. The child's demographic profile including socioeconomic status, dental history, oral habits, and oral hygiene practices was recorded. A 21-item prevalidated Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire (PSDQ) was used to assess parental behavior. WHO oral health pro forma (2013) was used to assess the oral health status of children. Chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney U-test and binary logistic regression were applied. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The majority of parents were authoritative (64.0%). The mean age of children was 4.15 ± 0.74 years. Sixty-one percent of the children had caries experience. The permissive group had a higher mean dmft (4.25 ± 3.43) than the authoritarian (2.1 ± 1.67) and authoritative group (1.51 ± 1.94) (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between authoritative and permissive (p < 0.001) and authoritarian and permissive (p < 0.001) groups for dt and dmft. Parenting style was significantly associated with dental caries and trauma. CONCLUSION: There is an association between parental behavior and oral health status among 3-5-year-old children. Hence, a prior appraisal of parental behavior is suggested for better oral health outcomes in children. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A prior appraisal of parenting style aids the clinician in the more efficient management of children through proper choice of behavior guidance technique. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Sabbarwal B, Puranik MP, SR Uma. Association between Parental Behavior and Child's Oral Health among 3-5-year-old Children in Bengaluru City. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(6):677-681.

Perceptions about toothbrush contamination and disinfection among dental students in Bengaluru City: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Toothbrushes are vital to remove dental biofilm and to prevent dental caries and periodontal disease. Repeated use of toothbrushes leads to contamination; hence, disinfection is essential in the maintenance of a brush. Current understanding and perception among dental students about toothbrush contamination and disinfection are essential. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the perceptions about toothbrush contamination and disinfection among postgraduates and interns in Bengaluru city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using self-administered questionnaire among 400 postgraduates and interns from five dental colleges in Bengaluru. The statistics were computed with the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 software and Chi-square test was used. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference regarding the source of information on tooth brush contamination (P = 0.008) and common mode of transmission of contamination (P = 0.01) between the two groups. The difference was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.01) regarding sharing of toothpaste. Only less than half of the participants, in both the groups practiced disinfection. CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant difference in the perceptions about tooth brush contamination and disinfection among postgraduates and interns that might be attributed to their higher academic knowledge and clinical experience.