Awareness of Saudi community toward multiple sclerosis in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia

Objectives:

To evaluate the awareness of Saudis in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia on multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 Saudis in Qassim, Saudi Arabia between January 2019 and June 2019 using a pre-designed questionnaire including socio-demographic data and questions evaluating knowledge about MS.

Results:

The majority of studied participants were adult females (74%), between 20-30 year-old (45.1%) and with high education level or above (80.6%). Nearly one third of the studied group had good knowledge regarding MS (31.7%). Half of the studied group knew that central nervous system (CNS) is the system affected by MS, 52% reported that vitamin D deficiency, family history of MS, personal history of autoimmune disease, viruses, and obesity are the factors which increase the risk of developing MS. Approximately, 62.9% knew that blurred and double vision, numbness, paralysis or weakness and difficulty in concentration and memorizing are symptoms of MS. Female participants and those knowing someone having MS had a significant good knowledge level regarding MS than others. Getting knowledge from combined sources from internet or social media; family, friends or neighbors and health workers was significantly more prevalent among those with good knowledge.

Conclusion:

Most of the study participants had limited knowledge regarding MS. Planning health education programs for the public is essential.

Saudi dental students' perceptions of pediatric behavior guidance techniques

BACKGROUND

Dental students receive theoretical and clinical training in pediatric behavioral guidance techniques at university. Therefore, the content of the educational course and the degree of training in behavioral techniques may have an impact on the students' perceptions and practice of such techniques. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Saudi dental students' perceptions of behavior guidance techniques used in pediatric dentistry, and to assess the changes in their perceptions after 1 academic year of a didactic and clinical educational course.

METHODS

This longitudinal study was carried out once at the beginning and once at the end of the 2013/2014 academic year at the College of Dentistry, King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire measuring the perceived acceptability of behavior guidance techniques was completed by 78 fourth-year dental students before and after a pediatric dental course. Acceptability ratings were scored on a 5-point Likert scale and compared and evaluated in relation to demographic data. Paired t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used for the statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Before the course, the highest scores were for reinforcement and desensitizing techniques and the lowest were for aversive and communicative techniques. After the course, statistically significant increases were found in the acceptability of aversive techniques (voice control and hand-over-mouth), all pharmacological techniques, and modeling. Most communicative techniques and clinical situations were also rated as significantly more acceptable. Statistically significant decreases in acceptability ratings were found in promising a toy, and immobilization by staff or a parent. Immobilization using a papoose board, modeling, the presence of parents during the child's treatment, and most communicative techniques were rated as significantly more acceptable by male students than female students.

CONCLUSIONS

In general, Saudi dental students rated most basic behavior guidance techniques as acceptable. An educational course, including didactic and clinical components, improved their acceptability ratings, and had a considerable influence on their perceptions of behavior guidance in pediatric dentistry.

Sodium hypochlorite versus Formocresol in primary molars pulpotomies: a randomized clinical trial

AIM

The aim of this randomised clinical trial was to compare the clinical and radiographic success rate of 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and 20% Formocresol (FC) as a pulpotomy medicament in carious primary molars.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-four children aged 4-8 years with at least 2 primary molars indicated for pulpotomy were included in this study. Eighty-two teeth received either 5% NaOCl or 20% FC using split mouth design, followed by restoration with IRM base/stainless steel crown (SSC). Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed at 3, 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS

NaOCl and FC groups demonstrated 100% clinical success at 3 months. At 6 months, NaOCl showed 95% and 87.5% clinical and radiographic success rate respectively, while FC showed 95% clinical and radiographic success rate. After 12 months, the clinical and radiographic success rates were 94.6% and 86.5% respectively for NaOCl, and 92.1% and 86.8% for FC.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed the success rate for NaOCl pulpotomy to be comparable to those for FC pulpotomy.