Use of an online medical database for clinical decision-making processes: assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice of oral health care providers

Assessment of patterns and related factors in using social media platforms to access health and oral health information among Sri Lankan adults, with special emphasis on promoting oral health awareness

BACKGROUND

Social media has evolved beyond its conventional purpose of communication and information sharing to become a potent tool for disseminating health and oral health awareness. This study seeks to assess the patterns and related factors of using social media platforms to access health and oral health information among Sri Lankan adults, with special emphasis to promotion of oral health awareness.

METHODS

In March 2023, individuals aged ≥ 18 years residing in Sri Lanka, who are users of social media participated in this electronic questionnaire-based survey. Statistical analyses of the collected data were done using the SPSS version 21 software, with a p-value of < 0.05 set to determine the level of statistical significance.

RESULTS

A total of 421 persons participated in this survey. Majority (68.4%) belonged to the age category of 18 to 30 years, and 55.5% were females. WhatsApp (96.8%) was the most frequently used social media platform across all age groups and both genders. Statistically significant differences were identified between genders in the usage of Telegram, Twitter, and Viber within the 18-30 years age category, with a higher percentage of males using these platforms (p ≤ 0.05). Similar significant differences were observed in the 31-40 years age group for WhatsApp and Telegram (p ≤ 0.05). Among 95.4% of online health information seekers, YouTube (74.9%) was the most popular platform. One-quarter of the respondents preferred social media platforms, and 22.3% preferred websites for obtaining oral health information. Furthermore, 74.9% had positive opinions on obtaining oral health information via social media, while only 17% reported pleasant experiences with social media platforms for oral health promotion. In assessing the reliability of oral health information on social media, 48% relied on the quality of the information. The most preferred source of oral health information was short videos from professionals (43.1%). Additionally, 69.5% reported changes in their oral health behaviours after accessing information through social media.

CONCLUSION

Social media is a viable platform for promoting public oral health awareness in Sri Lankan; hence, workable strategies need to be employed, to further ensure its effective and wider use in a culturally and socioeconomically diverse country like Sri Lanka.

How alcohol and/or tobacco use and raised glycemia are associated with oral hygiene practices among Burkinabè adults: Evidence from the first national non-communicable disease risk factors survey

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Unhealthy oral hygiene practices were common among adults in Burkina Faso.

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At about 39% used either alcohol or tobacco and 8% had raised glycemia.

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Substance uses and unhealthy oral hygiene practices were correlated.

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An abnormal metabolic component and poor oral hygiene practices were interrelated.

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Behavioral lifestyle interventions should be integrated for better health outcomes.

Socio-demographic correlates with oral hygiene practices are commonly investigated. The present study aimed to determine whether alcohol and/or tobacco use and hyperglycemia were associated with oral hygiene practices among Burkinabè adults. This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 4550 adults selected through multistage cluster sampling performed during the first WHO STEPS survey conducted in 2013 in Burkina Faso. The practices we considered were the frequencies of tooth cleaning, the fluoridated toothpaste use and the dentist visit within the past-six months. We collected data on self-reported alcohol and tobacco use and measured fasting blood glucose (FBG). About 82.8% of respondent reported they cleaned their teeth at least once a day, 31.5% cleaned them at least twice a day, 25.4% used fluoridated toothpaste, 2.2% had visited a dentist in the past six months, 38.8% used either alcohol or tobacco and 8.4% had raised FBG. After adjusting for socio-demographic factors, alcohol and/or tobacco use was an unfavorable factor for tooth cleaning at least once a day [aOR = 0.7 (0.6–0.8) p < 0.001], or at least twice a day [aOR = 0.6 (0.5–0.7) p < 0.001]. Moreover, raised FBG was negatively associated with cleaning tooth at least twice a day [aOR = 0.7 (0.5–0.9) p < 0.01] or the use of fluoridated toothpaste [aOR = 0.7 (0.6–0.9) p < 0.05]. Oral health education in addition to cardiovascular risk factor reduction should be efficiently integrated in the behavioral lifestyle interventions’ strategies for the non-communicable diseases’ prevention.

Evidence Based Dentistry among Dentists in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Purpose of this systematic review was to bring together studies of evidence-based practice among dentists in low- and middle-income countries, where its use has been reported to be limited. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO. Methodology: We searched the evidence (in English only) from medical databases including PubMed, EBSCO, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, HINARI summon, and SCOPUS and Web of Science via Research4Life, grey literature, hand search from relevant articles, and augmented results on Google scholar. Published reports were retrieved from relevant websites and organizations. Studies included those that looked at key factors that facilitate or hinder Evidence Based Dentistry (EBD), as well as outcomes in terms of: knowledge, attitudes and skills of EB practice among dentists; and the methodology used and their relevance in future EBD strategies. Main focus was on dentists, as practitioners and faculty members. Studies on students and non-dental personnel were excluded. Findings: A total of 4568 records were retrieved and five potentially relevant articles were selected after title/abstract screening. Two articles were excluded after full text screening, and therefore Three papers were included in this review. The studies report limited knowledge, unsatisfactory attitude towards EBD and lowpractice of EBD and use of scientific evidence databases. None of the studies reported implementation of EBD nor evaluation thereof. The main barriers that constrained application of EBD ranged from lack of interest to infrastructural limitations. Originality: The current review showed that there is a need to strategised implementation of EBD in this region.

Electronic Health-Information Resource Utilization and Its Associated Factors among Health Professionals in Amhara Regional State Teaching Hospitals, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

With the rapid advancement and growth of computer and networking technologies, there is also significant growth in the availability and use of various types of electronic information resources. The availability of health information provides confidence for health professionals in clinical decision-making and improves practical skills and attitudes to care. Due to limited studies, the extent of health professionals' electronic health-information resource (EHIR) utilization at specialized teaching hospitals in Amhara regional state is not known. This study aimed to assess the level of EHIRutilization and identify associated factors among health professionals at teaching hospitals in Amhara, Ethiopia.

METHODS

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among health professionals working at specialized teaching hospitals in Amhara from February 23 to May 10, 2020. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the utilization of EHIRs. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify which factors were associated with EHIR use.

RESULTS

A total of 383 (93.6% response rate) participants responded by completing the questionnaire, and 70.8% (271 of 383) of study participants used EHIRs. eHealth literacy (AOR 1.90, 95% CI 1.03-3.54), Internet access (AOR 1.97, 95% CI 1.06-3.67), computer literacy (AOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.68-5.76), information-searching skills (AOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.05-3.39), and computer access in the working area (AOR 2.50, 95% CI 1.55-5.54) were factors significantly associated with utilization of EHIRs.

CONCLUSION

Nearly three-quarters of the health professionals utilized EHIRs. However, most reported that they encountered problems while they were using those resources. For better utilization levels, giving training in the area of electronic information-resource use, increasing awareness of health professionals about available resources, and improving Internet and computer access in each hospital are recommended.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Rehabilitation Interventions for Teeth With Extensive Coronary Destruction

OBJECTIVE

To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of rehabilitation interventions for management of posterior teeth (molar) with extensive coronary destruction.

METHODOLOGY

An economic model by Markov simulated a hypothetical 10-year cohort with 1,000 patients requiring treatment for a molar tooth with pulp necrosis and extensive coronary destruction. This study adopted the perspective of a local manager from Specialized Center in Dentistry, based on the transfer from the Ministry of Health. Treatments were proposed: Tooth Extraction + Removable Partial Denture (TE+RPD); Root Canal Treatment + Intra-Radicular Restoration + Single Crown (RCT+RIR+SC); and Tooth Extraction + Dental Implant + Single Crown (TE+DI+SC). The costs were obtained from the SUS Integrated System of Procedures, Medicines and orthoses; prostheses and special materials table management (SIGTAP). Failure and survival rates were obtained from systematic reviews. The variable "years of survival" was an outcome of effectiveness. The probabilistic simulation considered the confidence interval of 95%, variation of parameters by 5% and annual discount rate of 5%.

RESULTS

TE+RPD intervention presented lower cost and effectiveness. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of RCT+IRR+SC and TE+DI+SC interventions compared to TE+RPD were $13.06 and $9.92 per year of survival. Compared to RCT+IRR+SC, the TE+DI+SC intervention had an ICER=$26.90 per year of survival. The acceptability curve indicates that the choice of intervention depends on the willingness to pay.

CONCLUSION

The RCT+IRR+SC intervention presented a balance of cost-effectiveness. Rehabilitation with implants can be considered in view of the higher expectation of longevity and, especially, greater willingness to pay.