Almas Binnal

Assessment of Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Oral Mucosal Diseases: A Questionnaire-Based Study

CONTEXT A validated discipline-specific questionnaire has been developed recently to assess the quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic oral mucosal diseases. OBJECTIVE Use the Chronic Oral Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire for evaluating a diverse group of patients with chronic oral mucosal disease after therapy. DESIGN Prospective convenience sample. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Quality of life. METHODS Seventy patients seen in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology with oral lichen planus, recurrent aphthous ulcers, pemphigus, and other chronic oral mucosal diseases were included in the study. Patients completed the questionnaire after undergoing treatment of their oral mucosal disease to assess their QOL. RESULTS Patients older than age 35 years reported significantly lower QOL (p = 0.015) in the domain of social and emotional status. Significant age-related differences in QOL were not observed in other domains. Older individuals also reported a significantly lower overall QOL. Men reported significantly better oral health-related QOL than women did in pain and functional limitation: 16.14 ± 8.94 vs 21.44 ± 7.696, respectively (p = 0.010). Significant differences were not observed between sexes for other domains. Significant differences were observed between the disease groups only for recurrent aphthous ulcers and pemphigus (p = 0.005). Patients with pemphigus had the worst overall QOL (73.6 ± 5.6). CONCLUSION Even after treatment, chronic oral mucosal diseases negatively affect patients’ QOL. Use of the Chronic Oral Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire may allow physicians to more effectively care for their patients with these diseases.

Insights into smoking and its cessation among current smokers in India.

BACKGROUND Initiation, perpetuation and cessation of smoking are all multifactorial. It is essential to explore interactions among various parameters influencing smoking and its cessation for effective smoking cessation interventions. OBJECTIVES To obtain insights into smoking and its cessation among current smokers in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was conducted among current smokers visiting the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences (MCODS), Manipal University, Mangalore. Knowledge, attitudes, behavior, worksite practices towards smoking and its cessation, barriers to smoking cessation and socio-demographic variables were explored using a structured, pretested, self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS A total of 175 current smokers participated in the study. Mean knowledge, attitude, worksite practice and barrier scores were 15.2±5.67 (66.1%), 57.5±7.67(82.1%), 4.18±2.02 (41.8%) and 57.4±12.37 (63.7%) respectively. Correlation analysis revealed: association of knowledge with education, occupation and religion; attitude with education and occupation; worksite practices with occupation; knowledge with attitude; and barriers negatively with worksite practices. The majority (85.7%) of respondents intended to quit smoking and this was associated with higher attitude scores, whereas actual quit attempts were associated with high knowledge, attitudes, worksite practices and low barrier scores. CONCLUSIONS Various socio-demographic factors associated with smoking and its cessation were identified. The present study highlights the importance of identifying and targeting these interactions while framing guidelines and interventions for effective tobacco cessation in a developing country like India.

Insights into the state of radiation protection among a subpopulation of Indian dental practitioners

Purpose Radiographs is an integral part of patient management in dentistry, despite their detrimental effects. As the literature pertaining to radiation protection among Indian dental practitioners is sparse, exploring such protection is needed. Materials and Methods All private dental practitioners in Mangalore, India were included in the study. A structured, pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was employed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices, previous training, perceptions towards the need to spread awareness, and willingness to gain and implement knowledge about radiation hazards and protection. Information regarding each respondents age, gender, education, and type and duration of practice was collected. Results Overall, 87 out of 120 practitioners participated in the study. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 9.54±2.54, 59.39±7.01, and 5.80±3.19, respectively. Overall, 25.3% of the respondents had undergone training in radiation protection, 98.9% perceived a need to spread awareness, and 94.3% were willing to improve their knowledge. Previous training showed a significant correlation with age, sex, and duration of practice; attitude was significantly correlated with education and type of practice; and knowledge scores showed a significant correlation with type of practice. Conclusion Although the knowledge and practices of respondents were poor, they had a positive attitude and were willing to improve their knowledge. Age, sex, and duration of practice were associated with previous training; education and type of practice with attitude scores; and type of practice with knowledge scores. The findings of this study suggest a policy is needed to ensure the adherence of dental practitioners to radiation protection guidelines.

Acupuncture and Its Implications in Dentistry

Acupuncture, an alternative therapy which originated in China is now practised in various countries of the world It is a technique that involves the use of needles placed transcutaneously at specific points to cure the diseases. Its applications and popularity has grown over the years and is practised by various healthcare professionals for lower back pain, migraine, knee osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, nausea and vomiting, headache, dysmenorrhea etc. Its use has been extended to the field of dentistry and promising results have emerged in cases of temporomandibular disorders, dental pain, chronic facial pain, xerostomia and gagging. This manuscript reviews the uses of acupuncture in dentistry and its future growth.

Tobacco Cessation Scenarios Among Healthcare Profession Students: A Multidisciplinary Study

Background: It is acknowledged that the most effective means to contain the tobacco epidemic is to involve healthcare providers across various disciplines. The present study was undertaken to gain a comprehensive insight into various factors that determine the efficacy of multidisciplinary approaches in tobacco control. Methods: A cross sectional study design using a structured, pretested and self-administered questionnaire was employed in the present study, conducted among medical and dental interns and final year nursing students. Respondent demographics, knowledge, attitude, behaviour, perceived effectiveness and barriers, and willingness to participate in tobacco cessation were assessed. Results: A total of 268 subjects participated, with mean knowledge, attitude, behaviour, perceived effectiveness and barrier scores of 69. 7%, 89.0%, 72.0%, 80.6% and 88.6% respectively. There were significant differences among the mean scores of the study domains across the 3 disciplines. The majority (92.91%) of the respondents were willing to participate in tobacco cessation activities, but only 14.2% had previously received relevant training. Regression analysis revealed that the significant predictors of behaviour scores were gender, course, attitude and perceived effectiveness; those for willingness to undertake tobacco cessation activities were course, attitude, behaviour and perceived barriers. Conclusions: The study highlighted the willingness but low previous training among the participants and also identified factors that determine t behaviour and willingness to undertake tobacco cessation activities. The study emphasizes the need for modification in the policies pertaining to curricula of medical, dental and nursing training programs.

Determinants of Smokeless Tobacco Consumption and its Cessation among its Current Users in India

INTRODUCTION Global Smokeless Tobacco (SLT) consumption is on the rise and constitutes a major Public Health problem. Controlling SLT intake is central to containing the increasing tobacco menace. AIM The present study was undertaken to comprehensively explore various factors involved in SLT consumption and its cessation among current SLT users. MATERIALS AND METHODS Present study was conducted among current SLT users visiting Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences (MCODS), Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. A structured, pretested and self-administered questionnaire was employed for the present study. Knowledge, attitude, behaviour, worksite practices of respondents towards SLT consumption and its cessation, barriers to SLT cessation were explored. Information about socio-demographic variables was also collected. RESULTS Overall, 170 current SLT users participated in the present study. Results revealed that the mean knowledge, attitude, worksite related practices and barrier scores were 9.96(55.33%), 48.89(81.48%), 2.70(33.75%) and 54.25(60.27%) respectively. Correlation analysis revealed significant association of socio-demographic factors with knowledge, attitude and worksite related practices (p<0.05). SLT cessation related practices revealed that majority wished to quit (90%) and significant associations were noted amongst wish to quit with higher attitude scores; actual quit attempts with higher attitude, lower barrier scores and difficulty to quit with higher barrier scores (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The present study draws attention towards involvement of complex interactions of various parameters including socio-demographic factors in SLT consumption and its cessation. Hence, it is imperative to implement multifactorial SLT control approach in order to contain tobacco menace spread across the globe.

Bilaterally occurring mucosal alterations of the oral cavity-a review

Introduction: Lesions of the oral cavity could be unilateral / bilateral and could be the initial manifestation of certain underlying pathology. Oral diagnosticians’ may be the ones who diagnose them in their initial stages. Unilateral lesions have been well documented whereas bilateral soft tissue lesions have been rarely documented in the literature. Hence we classified commonly occurring bilateral oro mucosal soft tissue lesions. Aim: To classify bilaterally occurring oro-mucosal soft tissue lesions bilateral occurrence of lesions could be a normal variant or indicative of pathology. Some of the lesions may or may not be symptomatic and some can even have a malignant potential. It is imperative to know the different types of bilaterally occurring lesions as diagnosing such lesions of the oral mucosa by the clinician is important through an adequate knowledge and thorough examination, followed by investigation for the proper management and better prognosis for the patients.