Associations and discrepancies between global self-ratings of oral health and general health: a Bayesian approach.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the discrepancies between global ratings of oral health and general health and investigate the factors associated with self-rated oral health (SROH) and self-rated general health (SRGH). METHODS: Data were collected from 502 participants aged 18 to 81 years. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data regarding sociodemographic characteristics and self-reported conditions. Global self-ratings of oral health and general health were the main outcomes. Discrepancies between self-ratings of oral health and general health were stratified by independent variables. Bayesian ordinal logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the posterior distributions of parameters and 95% credible intervals (95% CrI). RESULTS: The proportion of participants who rated their oral health worse than general health was 28.6% (95% CrI: 24.7-32.3). Negative discrepancies between SROH and SRGH were associated with being men, reporting gingivitis, and lower income. Sex (95% CrI: 1.12-2.25) impacted only on SRGH. Income (SROH - 95% CrI: 1.52-6.40; SRGH - 95% CrI: 1.08-4.56), tertiary education (SROH - 95% CrI: 1.13-2.53; SRGH - 95% CrI: 1.01-2.32), self-reported missing teeth (SROH - 95% CrI: 1.57-3.46; SRGH - 95% CrI: 2.21-4.92), self-reported gingivitis (SROH - 95% CrI: 1.10-2.40; SRGH - 95% CrI: 1.71-3.82), and self-reported chronic health problem (SROH - 95% CrI: 1.38-3.08; SRGH - 95% CrI: 1.61-3.59) impacted on both outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial discrepancies between self-rated oral health and self-rated general health were found and were associated with being male, reporting gingivitis, and having lower income.

Association between oral health-related quality of life and atraumatic restorative treatment in school children: an exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: The present study's objectives were to compare the perceptions of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among school children presents dental caries with that of caries-free school children, and to evaluate the subjective impact of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) on the OHRQoL of school children. DESIGN: Exploratory study. SETTING: Public school in Piracicaba, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample was composed of 30 children in the age-group of 8-10 years. The children were divided into two groups: one with caries and other without caries. The information related to OHRQoL was obtained through the administration of the Child Perceptions Questionnaires (CPQ 8-10 ). To evaluate the impact of ART on the school children's OHRQoL, the CPQ 8-10 was re-administered 4 weeks after the initial treatment. For statistical analysis we used the nonparametric Wilcoxon test for two dependent variables (test and re-test groups) and the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test for independent variables (test and control groups). RESULTS: It was observed that children with dental caries reported larger impact of oral health conditions on the quality of life when compared with the caries-free group, especially in the emotional and social well-being domains ( P ≤.05). After the school children who presented with dental caries received ART, there was improvement in the median scores of CPQ 8-10 in all of the domains, but particularly in the functional limitation domain ( P ≤.05). CONCLUSION: Dental caries exerts a strong influence on the OHRQoL of children. ART was shown to be a simple and painless caries management approach that could improve the OHRQoL of school children.

Development of an auxiliary resource for diagnosis of dental caries in epidemiological surveys.

OBJECTIVE: Early dental caries diagnosis within the changing global pattern of dental caries development requires the use of auxiliary resources and adjuncts to diagnosis. The aim of this study was to introduce an alternative resource for drying teeth to enable early diagnosis of dental caries in epidemiological surveys. METHODS: Polyurethane tips and three-in-one syringes were fitted to nebulizers and non-professional portable compressors for dental surface drying. The output air pressure of these sets was compared with the output pressure from the three-in-one syringe in a dental office. RESULTS: Although the output pressure from the alternative resources was lower than the output pressure from the dental office equipment, the dental surfaces were dried satisfactorily, allowing the early diagnosis of the dental caries. CONCLUSION: When a dental setting is not available, these alternative resources for drying teeth can be used satisfactorily.

Bulas de medicamentos e profissionais de saúde: ajudam ou complicam a compreensão dos usuários? / Medicine information leaflets: help or hinder the understanding of users?

A não aderência e o não cumprimento ao tratamento medicamentoso são considerados graves problemas de saúde pública, podendo comprometer a eficácia da terapêutica. Assim, a presente pesquisa realizou um levantamento bibliográfico na base de dados Medline sobre a elaboração das bulas e seu efeito na compreensão do uso de medicamentos pelos pacientes. Observando os resultados foram constatados: dificuldade no entendimento das informações contidas nas bulas, as ilustrações auxiliam na compreensão, na aderência e no cumprimento ao tratamento e as ilustrações com informações escritas ou verbais são benéficas. Concluiu-se que uma linguagem de difícil compreensão e carregada de jargões técnicos, letras pequenas, ausência de ilustrações ou uso incorreto das mesmas nas bulas são elementos complicadores da aderência. Portanto, as informações contidas nas bulas devem ser claras, com linguagem de fácil compreensão, letras de tamanho adequado e devem detalhar como e quando administrar o medicamento; além disso, as ilustrações ajudam na compreensão do paciente e nos processos de aderência e cumprimento do tratamento medicamentoso.

The non-adherence to and non-compliance with the prescribed course of medication are considered serious public health problems that may threaten the effectiveness of therapy. This paper reports a literature search, in the Medline database, for data on the design of package inserts (drug information leaflets) and their effect on patient understanding of the use of medicines. The following points were noted among the results: users have difficulty in understanding the information in the leaflets, illustrations help the patient to understand, adhere to and comply with the treatment and illustrations with written or verbal information are beneficial. It was concluded that the incomprehensible language, full of technical jargon and small print, and the lack or misuse of pictures in these leaflets are factors that interfere with adherence. Therefore, the information contained in these inserts should be clear, expressed in plain language, printed in letters of adequate size and should detail how and when to take the drug; in addition, illustrations help the patient to understand the therapy and follow it correctly until the end of the prescribed period.

Clinical evaluation of a polyacid-modified resin used as a fissure sealant: 48-month results.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of occlusal caries and the rates of retention using Variglass VLC (polyacid-modified resin) as an occlusal sealant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 185 school children (6-8 yr-old), with sound unsealed permanent first molars. Sealants were applied on the upper and lower first molars from a randomly chosen hemiarch (N=370 teeth). The follow-up was conducted at 6, 12 and 48 months examining 343 (93%), 290 (78%) and 187 (51%) teeth, respectively. RESULTS: After 48 months, total retention of the material was noted in only 5% of the teeth. The presence of sealant in 2/3 and 1/3 of the pit extension was verified in 8% and 14% of the teeth, respectively, while 73% of the sealed teeth had no sealant present on the occlusal surface. Caries incidence, measured by the presence of dental caries and restorations, was 16% representing an annual increase of 4%.