Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1942.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1942.

Epidemiological data reveal that one of the most common diseases in the world is dental disease. Scientific knowledge is available to prevent the vast majority of dental disease. Thus, individuals are not taking the necessary action to prevent caries and periodontal disease. Dental professionals try to facilitate primary prevention of disease through education and the correction of skill deficits with patients. Still billions of dollars are spent each year in the treatment of these diseases. This presents a major health and economic liability and demonstrates a clear need to implement additional behavioral management techniques in the field of dentistry. This study implements two behavioral management strategies, self-monitoring and monetary incentives, in a free dental clinic to explore the effects of these treatments on subject"s dental flossing rate. / M.S.

The rhetoric of primary health care, health promotion and health service integration is ubiquitous in health policy development in post-apartheid South Africa. However the form in which oral health promotion elements have actually been incorporated into other areas of health care in South Africa and the extent to which they have been implemented, remains unclear. The central aim of this research was to critically analyse oral health promotion elements in health policies in South Africa and determine the extent to which they have been implemented. The study set out to test the hypothesis that oral health promotion is fully integrated into South African health policy and practice.

The rhetoric of primary health care, health promotion and health service integration is ubiquitous in health policy development in post-apartheid South Africa. However the form in which oral health promotion elements have actually been incorporated into other areas of health care in South Africa and the extent to which they have been implemented, remains unclear. The central aim of this research was to critically analyse oral health promotion elements in health policies in South Africa and determine the extent to which they have been implemented. The study set out to test the hypothesis that oral health promotion is fully integrated into South African health policy and practice.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:50:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-06-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Introdução: No Brasil, o Instituto Nacional do Câncer (INCA) estima que haverá 14.120 novos casos de câncer bucal em 2010, sendo 10.330 em homens e 3.790 em mulheres. A maioria dos cânceres de boca infelizmente só é diagnosticada em fase tardia. O autoexame bucal, por representar uma estratégia simples e eficaz na identificação precoce das lesões cancerizáveis e do câncer bucal, deveria ser feito periodicamente, sobretudo por indivíduos do grupo de risco. Objetivo: Desenvolver e avaliar um website educacional no intuito de promover a prevenção e a identificação precoce das lesões cancerizáveis e do câncer bucal. Método: Foram desenvolvidos um website com conteúdo educacional sobre o câncer bucal, um questionário de conhecimento e um vídeo do autoexame bucal. A avaliação do website baseou-se em uma amostra n=100 dividida em dois grupos. O grupo G1 foi avaliado pré e pós navegação no website, e o grupo G2 não teve acesso ao conteúdo do website. Ambos os grupos executaram o autoexame bucal e registraram seus achados clínicos, que foram comparados com os achados clínicos dos dentistas. Resultados: O website desenvolvido foi intitulado “Website Educacional da Prevenção do Câncer Bucal”. A análise estatística mostrou que os grupos G1 e G2 eram homogêneos quanto ao conhecimento prévio sobre o câncer bucal. Entretanto, o G1 mostrou diferença significante (p<0,01) sobre o conhecimento pós navegação no website. Já a análise de concordância entre os grupos versus dentistas apresentou alta concordância para o G1 e fraca concordância para o G2. Conclusões: O website desenvolvido mostrou-se uma eficiente ferramenta educacional quanto ao ganho de conhecimento sobre o câncer bucal e propiciou eficaz reprodutibilidade do autoexame bucal. / Introduction: In Brazil, the National Cancer Institute (INCA) estimates there will be 14,120 new cases of oral cancer in 2010, with 10,330 men and 3,790 women. Unfortunately, most mouth cancers are only diagnosed in late stage. The oral self-examination represents a simple and effective strategy for early identification of precancerous lesions and oral cancer, and should be done periodically, especially for individuals in risk groups. Objective: To develop and evaluate an educational website aimed at promoting prevention and early detection of cancerous lesions and oral cancer. Method: A website with educational content on oral cancer, a survey of knowledge and a video of oral self-examination have been developed. The website evaluation was based on a sample n = 100, divided into two groups. Group 1(G1) was evaluated before and after browsing the website, and the group 2(G2) did not have access to the website content. Both groups performed the oral self-examination and recorded their clinical findings, which were compared with dentists clinical findings. Results: The developed website was named "Educational Website for Oral Cancer Prevention." Statistical analysis showed that G1 and G2 were homogeneous with respect to prior knowledge about oral cancer. However, G1 showed a significant difference (p <0.01) on knowledge after browsing the website. However, analyzing the agreement between the groups versus dentists, it was found high concordance for G1 and poor agreement for G2. Conclusions: The website proved to be an effective educational tool for gain of knowledge about oral cancer and provided effective reliability of oral self-examination. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

Oral health is strongly correlated to systemic health in the United States. Dental professionals play a significant role in addressing the oral health and prevention of disease for populations in the United States. Because many areas in the United States lack access to dental care, the federal government considers dental hygienists part of the solution. It is now paying attention to restrictive dental hygiene scope of practice rules in each state. State dental boards, comprised mainly of dentists, make these rules based on their perception of dental hygienists' lack of education. This study explored fourth-year dental students' perceptions of the dental hygienist's education and scope of practice. This research found that while dental students felt that the dental hygienist would be a positive addition to their future practices, they did not wholly understand the rigors of dental hygiene education. In addition, dental schools may need to educate on the differences between direct and general supervision.

A self-perpetuating cycle of poor health literacy and poor oral health knowledge and behavior affects approximately 90 million people in the United States, most especially those from low-income groups and other at-risk populations such as those with addiction. Poor oral health can result from lack of access to regular preventive dental appointments, lack of access to restorative care when dental diseases are treatable, and low oral health knowledge that leads to poor oral health self-care behaviors. In addition, patients' dental anxiety can impede care, because highly anxious people often avoid dental appointments. To address these issues, this inquiry examined oral health knowledge, attitudes toward oral health, and levels of dental anxiety among women in two residential chemical dependency treatment programs. Participants engaged in oral health intervention sessions to determine possible efficacy of the educational intervention. Results indicate positive outcomes in increases in oral health knowledge and behavior. The frequency of high-to-severe dental anxiety is much higher in this sample than in the general population. Implications are discussed, including use of economically efficient small-group oral health education training.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Purpose: Patient-provider communication has been studied extensively in the last two decades, and many researchers have confirmed the importance of communication between patient and provider in medical contexts. In spite of increased research in patient-provider communication in dentistry, dental care providers still report that patients often do not accurately follow oral health recommendations. Thus, there is the need for additional study on how patients make sense of the oral health information they receive and how they translate that information into action. This study aimed to obtain insight into how dental care patients perceive and make sense of the information they receive from their dentist and how they translate that information into action. Methods: 16 patients and 8 dentists from Indiana School of Dentistry’s (IUSD) Graduate Prosthodontic Clinic in Indianapolis, Indiana were included. Two in-depth interviews, one immediately following the dental visit and one 7-10 days later, were conducted with the patients, and one short interview was conducted with each patient’s dental care provider. Interviews were audio taped and transcribed. Results: The results show both patients and providers perceived the interaction during consultation positively. The majority of patients were able to accurately recall information they received from their dentists and made sense of new information through the lens of their previous experiences. Four additional factors that explain patients’ adherence with health advice were also found in addition to the previous studies. Conclusions: Successful dentist-patient interaction could be thought of as a match between what dentists think patients need to know, what patients think they want/need to know, and what patients actually know. Thus, some barriers that can keep dentists and patients from reaching information equilibrium are discussed. The study concludes by offering practical and theoretical implications.