Robert M. O'Shea

Smoking, alcohol, dentition and diet in the epidemiology of oral cancer

This matched case-control study was conducted in Western New York. The smoking, alcohol consumption, dental hygiene and diet of 290 cases were compared with those of 290 sex-, age-, and neighbourhood-matched controls. The results confirm earlier findings that cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption impart substantial risk of oral cancer. The results also confirm that poor oral hygiene increases the risk of oral cancer, although this effect is much smaller than those of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. The results suggest that, of macronutrients, intake of fat is more likely than those of protein or carbohydrate to be related to risk. Of micronutrients, calcium, sodium, riboflavin and retinol are associated with risk, while thiamin, niacin, and dietary fibre are associated with decreased risk. Although patterns of dietary effects are discernable, these effects are in general much weaker than are those of smoking and alcohol consumption.

Development of a patient measure of satisfaction with the dentist: the Dental Visit Satisfaction Scale.

Although patient satisfaction has been studied in the traditional medical context, patient satisfaction with the dentist has received only minor attention. This paper reports the development of a 10-item Dental Visit Satisfaction Scale. This scale was designed to assess patient satisfaction with the dentist in the context of a specific visit. It provides three subscales-Information-Communication, Understanding-Acceptance, and Technical Competence-as well as an overall measure of satisfaction. Satisfactory internal consistency was obtained for all scale measures, and one assessment of construct validity is reported. Potential clinical and research applications are discussed.

Unlimited Opportunities for Environmental Interventions with Inner-City Asthmatics

The purpose of this study was to identify the asthmatics living in the Lower West Side (LWS) of Buffalo, New York, and then explore the relationship between urban asthmatic and nonasthmatic exposures to many common household aeroallergens. Eight hundred twenty-eight households were visited and 167 asthmatics and 161 nonasthmatics were identified for comparison. Specific self-reported household exposure prevalences were identified for environmental tobacco smoke, sources of molds, household pets, rats, cockroaches, and sources of dust. Sources of molds, pets, and cockroaches were more likely to be found in the homes of asthmatics compared to nonasthmatics (p < 0.05). Other aeroallergens studied, although highly prevalent, were not more likely to be found in either asthmatic or nonasthmatic homes.

Communication and patient motivation in preventive periodontics.

PERIODONTAL disease is a major chronic disease which ha;s received little public health attention. The National Health Survey has reported that one of four American adults who still have their teeth has destructive periodontal disease; about two of four have gingivitis (1). Past early middle age periodontal disease is the major contributing cause to tooth loss. Further, it is an insidious disease which often has an asymptomatic early course, and it is extremely common among children. Public health dentistry has been almost exclusively concerned with controlling caries. Altlhough thalt goal has not yet been achieved, the road to conquering caries seems direct-through promotion of universal fluoridation of community water and widespread use of topical fluorides and therapeutic den;tifrices. These measures have the potential to reduce caries incidence by two-thirds. Thus, the time is ripe to attack periodontal disease, the other major destroyer of good oral health. The following discussion concerning communication and patient motivation in preventive periodontics presents some findings from recent dental and social research, identifies leads for preventive periodontal programs, and points out areas in which further research is indicated.

Using other People's Surveys to Evaluate a Student Health Service

(1982). Using other Peoples Surveys to Evaluate a Student Health Service. Journal of American College Health: Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 94-95.