RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Dental professionals are strategically placed to be the leaders in tobacco prevention and cessation as they provide preventive and therapeutic services to a basically healthy population on a regular basis. The objective of this study was to assess the tobacco cessation knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of dental practitioners in Kochi (Cochin), Kerala, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sampling frame of dentists enrolled in the Indian Dental Association (IDA), Kochi (Cochin) branch, practising in Ernakulam city, was obtained from the IDA. The letter describing the rationale for the study contained a 35-item pre-tested questionnaire and was personally delivered along with a stamped envelope. One hundred fourteen dentists returned a usable questionnaire. Data were entered and analysed using SPSS 12. Frequencies were calculated for all variables. RESULTS: Based on the responding dentists' self-reports, 54.6% were not confident in tobacco cessation counselling, 10.6% never asked, 60.9% asked in 50% of their patients about tobacco use and 17.6% of the dentists surveyed were smokers themselves. Participating dentists perceived that they were interested in using tobacco cessation counselling, but were not sure of quitting rates in their patients. The average time spent counselling patients about tobacco cessation was less than 2 minutes. CONCLUSION: The dentists perceived that lack of formal training leads to less motivation about tobacco counselling and hence infrequently incorporated tobacco cessation into their dental practices. The cessation of tobacco habits among dentists is essential.
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Actitud del Personal de Salud , Odontólogos/psicología , Educación en Odontología , Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud , Cese del Hábito de Fumar/métodos , Prevención del Hábito de Fumar , Consejo , Estudios Transversales , Relaciones Dentista-Paciente , Femenino , Humanos , India , Masculino , Motivación , Práctica Profesional , Fumar/psicología , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Dental fluorosis is a major public health problem in 17 states of India. Earlier studies have reported that Jowar (a type of millet) consumption interacts with fluoride (F) in the body and enhances fluorosis. We conducted this study to determine the association between jowar consumption and severity of dental fluorosis. METHODS: A community based case control study was carried out in villages having different F levels (low, medium, and high) in drinking water in North Karnataka, India. 352 school Children (12-15 years, male 58%) with severe dental fluorosis classified by Thylstrup & Fejerskov Index (1988) were selected as cases. 428 school children (12-15 years, male 48.8%) with no dental fluorosis were selected randomly from the same area as controls. Exposure ascertainment of jowar consumption was done by 24-h diet recall and food frequency questionnaire. Ion selective electrode method was used to estimate the F level in spot urine samples of subjects and in drinking water. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done using SPSS V. 11.01 RESULTS: Children who consumed jowar had 2.67 times more chance of getting severe dental fluorosis compared to those who did not [Odds Ratio (OR) 2.67, CI 1.98-3.62]. Children from high F level villages (OR 1.91, CI 1.27-2.85) had higher odds of severe dental fluorosis compared to children from medium and low F level villages. Daily jowar consumers (OR 2.14, CI 1.64-3.09) and weekly consumers (OR 1.68, CI 1.31-3.45) had higher risk for dental fluorosis compared to non jowar consumers. Children who started consuming jowar before 8 years of age had significantly higher proportion of severe dental fluorosis compared to their counterparts. Urinary F excretion among jowar consumers was significantly lower than non-jowar consumers. CONCLUSIONS: Jowar consumption was positively associated with severity of dental fluorosis in this population.
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Fluorosis Dental/etiología , Panicum/efectos adversos , Adolescente , Factores de Edad , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Niño , Intervalos de Confianza , Encuestas sobre Dietas , Femenino , Fluoruros/orina , Fluorosis Dental/epidemiología , Humanos , India/epidemiología , Masculino , Análisis Multivariante , Oportunidad Relativa , Factores SexualesRESUMEN
UNLABELLED: Any waste generated consequent to health care activity including any from a home environment is health care waste. Dental practices generate large amounts of waste cotton, plastic, latex, glass and other materials much of which may be contaminated with body fluids. OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of private dental practitioners on health care waste management in Bangalore City. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 432 private dental practitioners in Bangalore City using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: 389 dentists responded; 64.3% do not segregate waste before disposal and 47.6% hand over health care waste to street garbage collectors; 42.1% felt that there was a lack of waste management agency services and 16.9% felt that a lack of knowledge were the main hurdles. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists need education regarding health care waste disposal methods to improve their knowledge. A large proportion of the dentists are not practising proper methods of health care waste disposal. The existence of legislation governing healthcare waste disposal is not sufficient alone to motivate many practitioners to comply with guidelines.
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Residuos Dentales , Eliminación de Residuos Sanitarios , Actitud del Personal de Salud , Estudios Transversales , Odontólogos/psicología , Femenino , Adhesión a Directriz , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Humanos , India , Masculino , Práctica Privada , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis and its relationship with fluoride levels in drinking water. DESIGN: Twelve villages with similar climate, diet, socioeconomic conditions and altitudes were selected from rural areas of Davangere district, Karnataka, India. The fluoride concentration in drinking water was estimated by the Ion Selective Electrode Method. Dean's Index was used to assess the dental fluorosis. Karl-Pearson coefficient for correlation and simple regression analysis were used to evaluate the association between the water fluoride levels and the community fluorosis index (CFI). RESULTS: The study group consisted of 1,131, 12-15-year-old school children. The fluoride levels in drinking water of selected villages were in the range of 0.22-3.41ppm. A stepwise increase in the prevalence of dental fluorosis with corresponding increase in water fluoride content, 13.2% at 0.22ppm F to 100% at 3.41 ppm F, was found. There was a significant positive linear correlation (r=0.99) between CFI and water fluoride level. CONCLUSION: Dental fluorosis is a major dental public health problem among children in Davangere district and is related to drinking water with 0.74ppm fluoride or above.