Understanding rapid oral health deterioration and its associated factors among older adults: A scoping review.

Background: Understanding the pivotal interplay between systemic and oral health is paramount to ensuring holistic care, particularly among the aging demographic. Therefore, this review article aims to explore the emerging concept of Rapid Oral Health Deterioration (ROHD) by reviewing the current knowledge base among older adults and identifying knowledge gaps in this area of research. Methods: This scoping review was conducted in line with Arksey and O'Malley's framework between December 2023 and March 2024 and reported while adhering to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic database search was performed across three databases i.e. PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE to collate the existing literature published in English between January 2013 and February 2024 addressing ROHD among older adults. After data charting, a critical appraisal of the selected studies was followed by qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Among the 12 papers in this scoping review, 10 were cross-sectional studies, with one each of retrospective cohort and case-control studies. The qualitative thematic analysis of the selected articles resulted in the emergence of four main themes: risk factors for ROHD, attributes related to ROHD, challenges encountered in the management of ROHD, and management approaches for ROHD among older adults. Conclusions: This scoping review provides an overview of the rapid deterioration of oral health among older adults. Age-related dental disease harms the quality of life and overall health. To avoid dental disorders and to maintain and improve oral health in older adults, an integrated and multidisciplinary approach is essential. If ROHD is not treated, it may lead to poor health, a lower quality of life, and in severe cases, systemic infections that increase hospitalizations and possibly cause death.

A qualitative exploration of patients' perception regarding the comprehensive dental services availed at a primary health center.

Introduction: Comprehensive oral care is a service centered around the patient, and individuals who need it the most often face limited access. Patient perception acts as a guide for enhancing quality, ensuring patients' future intent to utilize the services and facilitating recommendations to others. The present study aimed to assess the patients' perception of comprehensive dental services availed at a Primary Health Center (PHC). Methods: This qualitative study was based on a phenomenological interpretive approach, and judgment sampling method was employed. A validated interview guide, developed from relevant literature was employed in the local language to conduct interviews among adults visiting the PHC, gathering their views regarding the services provided. The interviews were audio recorded on a digital voice recorder, and files were password protected. Content saturation guided the determination of the final number of participants interviewed. After translating and transcribing the interviews, thematic analysis and coding were performed using ATLAS. ti 23 for Windows. Results: A total of 12 participants were included in the study, following data saturation. Among them, there were 8(66.7%) female and 4(33.3%) male participants. Ten overarching main themes were discerned through the assigned codes, including positive views, neutral views, negative views, previous dental clinics visited, previous experience with dental treatment, treatments sought at the center, referrals, source of information about the dental center, subsequent visits and suggestions for improvement. Conclusions: The findings of this study revealed a positive patient perception of the comprehensive dental services offered at the PHC. Through insightful interviews, various strengths, and areas for improvement regarding the center and care provision were identified. These insights provide valuable suggestions that can be applied to elevate the utilization of dental services, ensuring continuous improvement in patient care.

A scoping review exploring oral health inequalities in India: a call for action to reform policy, practice and research.

INTRODUCTION: Reduction in health inequalities and providing universal access to health care have been identified as two important global milestones by the World Health Organization for countries to achieve by 2030. Therefore, recognizing the magnitude of oral health inequalities in India has become a pressing priority to improve access to dental care within the country. This scoping review was conducted with the aim of reviewing, collating and analysing the current knowledge base on oral health inequalities in India. METHODOLOGY: The scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley's approach, and reporting was performed in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search was conducted on Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE to identify literature addressing one or more dimensions of oral health inequalities in India, published in English between January 2002 and April 2022. The data were charted, and qualitative analysis was performed to derive themes, highlighting the key concepts emerging from this review. RESULTS: In accordance with the eligibility criteria, a total of 71 articles retrieved through database search and backward citation search were included in this scoping review. The major themes ranged from individual to diverse sociodemographic factors acting as barriers to and facilitators of access to dental care. Deficiencies in human resources for oral health, along with a wide diversity in dental service provision and dental education were other major themes contributing to inequality. Subsequently, this has resulted in recommendations on restructuring the dental workforce and their development and modifications in oral health care policies and practices. The qualitative synthesis demonstrates the intertwined nature of the multiple factors that influence the goal of achieving an affordable, accessible, extensive and inclusive oral healthcare system in India. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive review provides a broad perspective on oral health inequalities in India, providing valuable insights for both researchers and policymakers in this area and guiding their efforts towards achieving universal oral health coverage in the Indian context.

Infodemic in Public health a reemerging public health threat: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Infodemic is a neologism of 'information' and 'epidemic' coined in the year 2003. Evidence mapping is a technique to appraise the literature which enables the extent of research activity in a specific area to be discovered. The main objective of this evidence synthesis presents the outcomes of an evidence map that was directed to know the extent of Infodemics and its effects on public health.  Methods: The following methods were used to construct this evidence synthesis: Phase I. Construct a Broad Question Referring to the Field of Analysis. Phase II; Defining Key Variables to Be Mapped, identifying the characters of each variable and Outline Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria for the variables. Phase III: Literature search. Phase IV: Screening and Charting the Appropriate Evidence within the Synthesis.  Results:  Authors identified 55 records through database searching, after screening for duplicates, 53 records screened at title/abstract level of which, 16 records were removed because of lack of complete article or articles were not in English. 37 articles were eligible for full text screening, 37 full-text articles were than assessed for eligibility and only 22 articles were included as per inclusion criteria with an interrater Outcome Kappa value: 0.91. The strength of agreement was considered to be 'excellent'.  Conclusions: This synthesis focused majorly on the gaps in the research focused on infodemic. The two main gaps identified were lack of systematically conducted research and poor digital health literacy. As infodemic is a new phenomenon with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic it was an eye opener at different levels of public health, furthermore this evidence map points out areas for further research on the impact of infodemic.

Role of nutritional supplements on oral health in adults - A systematic review.

Purpose: The word 'diet' usually encompasses the consumption of food that includes all the necessary nutrients required for the optimal functioning of the body. Nutritional supplements hold a supreme position due to the demanding lifestyles or medical conditions in this current era. Although medical literature has sufficient evidence exploring the effect of nutrients on general health, this systematic review aimed at specifically evaluating the role of nutritional supplements on oral health in adults. Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed in conducting this systematic review where four electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were reviewed. Based on the inclusion criteria, four studies exploring the effect of oral nutritional supplements on oral health among the adult population were included in this systematic review. Results: This review generated evidence suggesting a positive effect of nutritional supplements on oral health. These findings were depicted in the form of a reduction in plaque scores, probing depths, gingival inflammation, and greater improvement in periodontal healing among individuals with higher intakes of nutritional supplements within recommended doses. Conclusions: The systematic review outlines the positive impact of consuming nutritional supplements in the recommended dosage on oral health. Additionally, this review stresses the necessity for interventional studies to further investigate the effects of nutritional supplements on oral health, particularly in regard to periodontal healing. PROSPERO registration: CRD42021287797 (27/11/2021).

Novel behavioral model in evaluating initiation and sustenance of teeth brushing behavior among students pursuing health sciences: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Oral hygiene maintenance is a crucial and integral feature in determining the overall wellbeing of a person. It has been established that interventions for health promotion at the public health level derived from theoretical models based on social and behavioural sciences have a superior effectiveness as compared to the ones without a theoretical background. Hence a novel behavioral model known as the multi-theory model (MTM) was used to understand two important aspects of health behavior change: (i) Initiation and (ii) Sustenance in twice daily teeth brushing in a university setting with objectives to identify factors effecting MTM in initiation and sustenance of twice daily brushing behavior among students pursuing health sciences and correlating the MTM theory with socio-demographic and behavioral patterns. Methods: The study is an analytical cross-sectional study. Students pursuing Medicine and Dentistry in a University setting were included. A validated questionnaire was designed for this study. Questions were framed to evaluate the constructs of initiation and sustenance of MTM, personality, sleeping habits and demographic corelates of participants. Multiple means between the groups were compared using analysis of variance and a post hoc test. Correlation was established between different domains, the items were then entered for hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Of the 235 participants in the study, 229 completed the questionnaire. There was a significant association between brushing quartiles, professional streams (p<0.001) and academic performance (p<0.001). The hierarchical multiple regression revealed that at stage one, behavioral confidence contributed significantly to the regression model (F (1,227) = 33.227, p<0.001) and accounted for 12.4% of the variation in twice daily brushing. Conclusion: MTM is a good tool in predicting the initiation and sustenance of twice daily brushing behavior among young adults and can form a useful tool in assessing the patterns of brushing behavior in a population.

Effect of whitening toothpaste on surface roughness and microhardness of human teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Whitening toothpastes exert a whitening effect on teeth through higher surface cleaning effectiveness resulting from the abrasive properties of the paste or specific chemical components. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conceptualized to examine the relationship between whitening toothpastes and surface roughness as well as microhardness of human teeth and to clarify the evidence base available around this relationship by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies in this topic area, looking at in vitro randomized control trials. Methods: Criteria for including studies in the review were done based on population, intervention, comparison, outcomes and study and studies were identified from electronic databases. Covidence® was used for data screening and data extraction. The CONSORT tool was used for checking relevant content and methodology used in each of the papers reviewed. Systematic review was done followed by meta-analysis, using Review Manager. Results: A total of 125 articles were obtained on key word search. After duplicate removal and title screening, 17 articles were eligible for full text review. Finally, 7 studies were included for systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on 4 studies. The forest plot for surface roughness showed that that the meta-analytic effect was statistically significant with surface roughness value being higher in the intervention group. The forest plot for microhardness showed that the meta-analytic effect was statistically significant with the microhardness value being lesser in the intervention group. Conclusions: Although whitening toothpastes typically can lighten tooth color by about one or two shades, there is some evidence to show that these toothpastes also affect the mineral content of teeth by increasing surface roughness and reducing microhardness. More evidence and further research are needed to identify the type of whitening agent which will whiten the tooth effectively while maintaining the integrity of the tooth structure.

Development of Modified Dental Beliefs Scale Among an Adolescent Rural Population.

OBJECTIVE: Modified dental beliefs scale (MDBS), the shortened form of the R-DBS, was developed in a multicultural population. The factor structure of MDBS is not explored in an Indian context. The study explores psychometric properties and tests the fit of MDBS in a rural costal adolescent population in a vernacular language. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional analysis was carried out at two randomly selected rural Institutes in Costal Karnataka. Psychometric properties using a questionnaire were assessed. Validity and reliability were assessed by Cronbach's α, split-half reliability, and test-retest analysis. Statistical analysis: Factor analysis with varimax rotation was employed to add a level of statistical precision and assist in the development the instrument. Two models were developed and tested for goodness of fit, root mean square error of approximation, and comparative fit. RESULTS: The MDBS revealed a Cronbach's α value of 0.76. Split-half reliability and Guttman split-half reliability were found to be 0.86 and 0.86, respectively. Test-retest reliability was found to be 0.74 (P < 0.01). Factor analysis revealed a five-factor solution explaining 67.8% of the variation in the scale. CFA revealed an appropriate goodness of fit for both models with better values for model two with chi-square value was statistically significant and the ratio value (χ2/df = 7.8). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that the MDBS is a reliable and valid tool for the present population subset, with good fit for the second model with two separate latent variables.

Technical considerations and outcome of free functioning gracilis muscle transfer for finger flexion in patients with Volkmann's Ischemic Contracture.

INTRODUCTION: Severe Volkmann's Ischemic Contracture (VIC) is a reconstructive challenge for the surgeon because of the loss of entire flexor muscle mass and lack of powerful wrist extensors for restoration of finger flexion. In such cases, free functioning muscle transfer (FFMT) using gracilis is our choice. We herein summarize the technical considerations to achieve a successful outcome and report functional outcome achieved in our series. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between 2007-2018, 22 patients of VIC underwent gracilis FFMT for restoration of finger flexion. FFMT was done as a second stage following an initial stage of neurolysis/excision of fibrotic flexor muscles/contracture release/flap cover in these patients. Cases were retrospectively reviewed and their functional outcome at a minimum of one-year follow up was analyzed. Follow-up duration ranged from 2-13 years (average-4 years). At the final follow up, the motor and sensory recovery was evaluated using the Medical Research Council Grading and their function using Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score. RESULTS: The average age at surgery ranged from 3-45 years (average-18.4 years). All the transferred muscles survived. Secondary procedures to further improve the hand function were done in nine patients. The motor recovery for finger flexion was graded as M2 in two, M3 in nine and M4 in 11 cases. These 20/22 patients who recovered M3/M4 finger flexion expressed high satisfaction with the operation while other two also felt that they were better after the surgery. DASH score was available for 13 patients and it averaged 13.21 (Range-1.8-34.5). Grip strength was available for 10/22 patients and it averaged 10.5 kg (range-0-21kg) amounting to 24% of the normal side. The sensory recovery was graded as S4 in two, S3 in 17 and S2 in three cases. CONCLUSION: Gracilis FFMT is a reliable option for restoration of finger flexion in patients with severe VIC. Outcome is better when done after an early preliminary stage of excision of fibrosed muscles and neurolysis which allows recovery of intrinsic function and sensation. FFMT is best carried out 3-6 months after the first stage with supple skin and good passive range of movement in the fingers.

Insights into Disaster Management Scenario among Various Health-Care Students in India: A Multi-Institutional, Multi-Professional Study.

BACKGROUND: The frequency of occurrence of disasters is on the rise all over the world. Workforce shortage can be a major impediment toward efficient disaster management. Incorporation of other health-care workers along with conventional medical personnel might be critical for efficient and effective management of disasters. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess various aspects pertaining to disaster management among various health-care students in India. METHODS: Final-year students pursuing medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, Ayurveda, and homeopathy at various institutions in Mangalore, India, were the study participants. Participants' willingness to partake in disaster management and knowledge, attitude, behavior, and perceived effectiveness pertaining to disaster management was ascertained by a questionnaire method. Their previous history of training and familiarity with standard operating procedures was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 437 students belonging to seven health-care institutions participated in the study. Overall, 98.40% of the participants were willing to partake in disaster management. The mean knowledge, attitude, behavior, and perceived effectiveness scores were 49.19%, 81.75%, 47.28%, and 66.20%, respectively. Step-wise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that course (ß = 0.247, P < 0.001), attitude (ß = 0.154,P = 0.001), and behavior (ß = 0.284, P < 0.001) were significant predictors of perceived effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Participants in the present study revealed that they were willing to partake in disaster management. The participants also reported poor behavior and knowledge scores but appropriate attitude scores. The present study highlights the need for curriculum changes and policy implications for effective integration of various sectors for disaster management, particularly in developing nations such as India, which have a definite scarcity of resources.

Fracture dislocations of the carpometacarpal joints of the fingers.

OBJECTIVE: Fracture dislocations of the multiple carpometacarpal joints [CMCJ] of the fingers are uncommon injuries that can significantly compromise hand function and durability if managed sub-optimally. These injuries are at risk of being missed as they are commonly a part of major high energy trauma with associated more obvious and immediately threatening injuries getting all the attention. The clinical and radiological parameters which could help a surgeon to detect and analyse these injuries well are discussed. The management of these injuries with emphasis on the pattern of K-wire fixation is presented. METHOD: A review of multiple CMCJ dislocations at our institution found 39 hands in 38 patients (one case with bilateral injury) over a seven-year period (January 2010 to January 2017). The pattern of injury noted in these cases was assessed and categorized. Our preferred management plan for these injuries is discussed. RESULTS: The patterns of dislocations noted in a total of 39 cases were-dorsal (25), dorsal radial (6), volar (1), volar radial (5) and divergent (2). The dorsal dislocations were the commonest (25/39) and additional 6/39 were radial-dorsal, only six displaced in a volar direction. Divergent dislocation was seen in only two cases. CONCLUSION: The pattern of dislocations noted in 39 cases in our institute (Ganga Hospital- A tertiary level trauma center) is presented to provide an overview of the spectrum of the injuries which a surgeon could face. Early surgery is recommended and should be aimed to restore perfect anatomical alignment of the skeleton. Surgeon should have a low threshold for open reduction in case of gross swelling or inability to get an anatomical closed reduction. The method of K-wire fixation presented herein has resulted in good outcome in our practice; wherein we fix the dislocated CMCJ by inserting K-wires from the radial and ulnar borders of the hand and avoiding wires in the central part of the hand. This prevents extensor tendons tethering by the K-wires. The fixation achieved by multiple K-wires passed in this manner provides enough stability to allow for early active mobilisation of the fingers. The need for careful assessment to detect associated nerve injury and compartment syndrome; and post-operative strict hand elevation and prevention of stiffness of the MCP joints has been emphasized.The CMCJ dislocations have innumerable patterns possible; however, the management principles remain the same. In spite of the gross distortion of the anatomy seen in these injuries, anatomical reduction and adequate stabilization to allow early mobilization generally results in satisfactory outcomes.

General Dental Practitioners as Potential Responders to Disaster Scenario in a Highly Disaster-prone Area: An Explorative Study.

AIM: The aim of this study is to obtain insights pertaining to disaster management among Indian general dental practitioners (GDPs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All GDPs in Mangaluru city, Karnataka, India, were included in the present study. Their willingness to participate in disaster management and their objective knowledge, attitude, behavior, and perceived effectiveness related to disaster management were assessed by a structured, pretested, self-administered questionnaire. Demographic information was also collected. RESULTS: Overall, 101 GDPs volunteered for the study, and 96.04% of respondents were willing to participate in disaster management. Mean knowledge, attitude, behavior, and perceived effectiveness scores were 52.65, 79.60, 41.55, and 64.20% respectively. Religion (odds ratio [OR] = -0.194, p = 0.022), marital status (OR = -0.222, p = 0.040), attachment to college (OR = -0.256, p = 0.037), familiarity with standard operating procedures (SOP; OR = -0.502, p = 0.000), and knowledge (OR = 0.265, p = 0.003) were significant predictors of behavior. CONCLUSION: The GDPs reported knowledge and behavior scores which were low, while their attitude and willingness to participate were high. Demographic determinants might be critical indicators in disaster management scenario among GDPs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The present study has crucial implications for policymakers and curriculum changes to integrate dentists effectively into disaster response teams. As responsible members of the society, the dental fraternity has critical contributions to make toward disaster mitigation. Integration of GDPs in a multidisciplinary team managing disasters might be crucial, especially in highly disaster-prone areas, such as India, with a definite paucity of resources.

Effect of Motives for Food Choice on Oral Health among Primary School Children in Mangalore: An Analytical Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Parents influence children's eating behaviours by making some foods available than others and by acting as models of eating behaviour. Food selected by parents influence general and oral health of their children. AIM: Aim of this study was to assess oral health parameters among primary school children and motives for food choice among their parents in Mangalore. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 759 primary school children aged 5-10 years, and their parents participated in this study. Motives for food choice among parents of children were evaluated by using Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ). Oral health status of students was assessed by using World Health Organisation (WHO) Basic Oral Health Assessment Form. Data pertaining to dietary habits and demographics was also collected. Descriptive and inferential statistics along with Pearson's correlation and Binary logistic regression were executed for the present study and level of significance was fixed at p<0.05. RESULTS: Caries prevalence was 10.8% and 68.9% in permanent and primary dentitions, respectively. Mean Decayed, Missing And Filled Tooth (DMFT) index scores among study subjects were 0.21±0.72 and 3.08±3.11 for permanent and primary dentitions, respectively. Increase in caries prevalence was significantly associated with decrease in total FCQ scores. FCQ domains 'health', 'natural content' and 'weight control' were significantly correlated with dental caries experience. FCQ also showed significant correlation with socio-economic variables. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, dental caries experience was found to be high. Parental food choice motives positively influenced dietary patterns and caries experience of their children. Caries experience was less in children whose parents reported higher scores on FCQ. Understanding the barriers, identification of risk factors for poor food choices and targeting interventions might formulate ways by which the desired behaviour can be achieved.

Impact of occlusal support and perceived chewing ability on oral health-related quality of life among patients attending a private dental institution in India.

PURPOSE: Presence of functional tooth units is essential for preserving masticatory function among individuals. Representing the essence of health promotion practice, demand to measure varied evaluation outcomes is highlighted. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: (1) To assess the influence of occlusal support and perceived chewing ability on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among adults attending a private dental institution in Mangalore. (2) To evaluate occlusal support using Eichner index (EI), perceived chewing ability using a self-administered questionnaire and OHRQoL using Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall, 300 adults attending a private dental institution in Mangalore were included. EI was used to group participants into three groups. The chewing ability was assessed using a questionnaire on perceived difficulty while chewing eight common foods. OHRQoL was measured employing OHIP-14. Perceived general and oral health status and demographic information were collected. RESULTS: The mean perceived chewing ability score was 12.98 ± 6.2 and the mean total OHIP score was 9.23 ± 8.9. EI showed a significant relation with perceived chewing ability, OHIP, and perceived general health status (P < 0.05). Perceived chewing ability and OHIP demonstrated a significant correlation (r = 0.31, P < 0.001). Age, gender, education, occupation, monthly income, family income, and number of family members demonstrated a significant association with EI (P < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that EI, perceived chewing ability, and perceived oral health emerged as significant predictors of OHRQoL (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Occlusal support was significantly associated with perceived chewing ability, OHRQoL, and perceived general health status.

Antimicrobial efficacy of Tulsi leaf (Ocimum sanctum) extract on periodontal pathogens: An in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is an infection of the periodontal complex with severe forms of disease associated with specific bacteria colonizing the subgingival area. Widespread use of drugs has resulted in the emergence of side effects, uncommon infections, and resistance. Plant medicine like Tulsi has been used in many clinical conditions, and it appears to be a suitable alternative to manage conditions affecting the oral cavity. Hence, the objective was to assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity of Tulsi leaves extract (Ocimum sanctum) on periodontal pathogens with doxycycline as standard, as doxycycline has been used as an adjunct to nonsurgical therapy in periodontitis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethanolic extract of Tulsi was prepared by cold extraction method. Extract was diluted with an inert solvent, dimethyl formamide, to obtain five different concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 2%, 5%, and 10%). Doxycycline was used as a positive control and dimethyl formamide, as a negative control. The extract and controls were subjected to the microbiological investigation against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Agar well diffusion method was employed to determine the concentration at which Tulsi gave an inhibition zone, similar to doxycycline. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey post-hoc test was used for inter- and intra-group comparisons. RESULTS: At 5% and 10% concentrations, Tulsi extracts demonstrated antimicrobial activity against A. actinomycetemcomitans, similar to doxycycline with similar inhibition zones (P > 0.05). P. gingivalis and P. intermedia, however, exhibited resistance to Tulsi extract that showed significantly smaller inhibition zones (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Tulsi demonstrated effective antimicrobial property against A. actinomycetemcomitans, suggesting its possible use as an effective and affordable "adjunct" along with the standard care in the management of periodontal conditions. However, further research assessing the toxicity, durability, and other assessments followed by clinical trials is necessary to explore the potential of Tulsi in combating oral conditions.

Trends in self-medication for dental conditions among patients attending oral health outreach programs in coastal Karnataka, India.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence, pattern, and awareness of self-medication practices among patients presenting at oral health outreach programs in coastal Karnataka, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study, based on an interview conducted in randomly selected 400 study subjects from the patients presenting at these oral health outreach programs. Data were collected regarding demographic information and the interview schedule consisting of 14 questions was administered. RESULTS: Prevalence of self-medication was 30%. Respondents' gender (χ(2) = 5.095, P < 0.05), occupation (χ(2) = 10.215, P < 0.05), the time from the last dental visit (χ(2) = 8.108, P < 0.05), recommendation of drug(s) to family members or friends (χ(2) = 75.565, P < 0.001), and the likelihood of self-medication in the next 6 months (χ(2) = 80.999, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with self-medication. Male respondents were less likely to have undertaken self-medication (odds ratio = 0.581 [0.361, 0.933]). The frequently self-medicated drug was analgesics (42.5%) for toothache (69.2%). The regression model explained 39.4% (Nagelkerke R(2)) of the variance in self-medication practices. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of self-medication was 30% with demographic influence. Hence, this study highlights the policy implications for drug control by government agencies and stresses on the need for dental health education to discourage irrational drug use.

Social determinants of health and oral health: An Indian perspective.

Several conventional approaches have been tried in the past to resolve health inequities in India. However, achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is yet to be fully realized as the benefits have been meager. The recent concept of targeting social determinants of general and oral health in order to achieve health for all has shown positive results in the developed as well as the developing nations. Based on the framework recommended by the Commission on Social Determinants of Health, several policies have been introduced and suitably backed up with the intention of providing health care even to people living in remote sections of the society. This paper intends to highlight the rationale for social determinants approach in Indian context, its application and future recommendations for the same. It is considered as a radical approach, and adequate measures have been implemented by health systems to achieve the desired targets without delay. However, in order to achieve UHC, redistribution of the available resources and converting the "normative" needs into "felt" needs of the people is going to be an uphill task to accomplish.

Reporting guidelines in health research: A review.

Contemporary health research has come under close scrutiny, exposing alarming flaws in the reporting of research. The reporting guidelines can aid in identification of poorly reported studies and can bring transparency to health research. The guidelines also help journal editors, peer reviewers, funding agencies, and readers to better discern health research. Reporting guidelines encourage accurate and thorough reporting of fundamental aspects of health research so that the results of studies can be replicated by others. Reporting guidelines are potent tools to improve the practice of research and in reducing reporting bias. For the present review, both electronic and manual literature search was carried out. Electronic databases like PubMed, MEDLINE, EBSCO host, and Science Direct were searched for extracting relevant articles. Various key words and their combinations were used for literature search like reporting guidelines, checklist, research, publishing standards, study design, medicine, and dentistry. The search results were scrutinized for relevance to the topic and only full text articles in English were incorporated. Various reporting guidelines were identified and grouped under headings based on study design. This review article attempts to highlight the various reporting guidelines in literature relating to health research, its potential applications, and its limitations.

Oral health care availability in health centers of mangalore taluk, India.

BACKGROUND: Community-oriented oral health programs are seldom found in India. When primary health care systems were in the 1980s, dentistry was not adequately included. This has left oral health far behind other health services. OBJECTIVES: To find the availability of dental professionals, infrastructure, equipment, and treatments provided in health centers of Mangalore taluk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical officers and dentists working in all the health centers of Mangalore taluk, using an interview schedule, the oral health care availability inventory (ORAI). RESULTS: Among 23 health centers of Mangalore taluk, dental services were available at six health centers (26%) [two community health centers (CHCs) and four primary health centers (PHCs)]. Mouth mirrors, dental explorers, and extraction instruments were available at six health centers [two CHCs (100%) and four PHCs (19%)]. No health centers provided orthodontic tooth corrections, removal of impacted teeth, oral biopsies, and fabrication of removable dentures. CONCLUSIONS: Availability of dental services was limited in the health centers, and a vast majority of the rural population in Mangalore taluk did not have access to dental care.