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Background: Despite being in temperate zone, India is endemic to nutritional rickets. However, very little has been studied on knowledge, perception and cultural practices of Indian communities, towards calcium and vitamin-D deficiency in children. Aim & Objective: The study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire in Hindi language for the assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices of parents towards calcium and vitamin D deficiency among children. Methodology: We searched electronic databases for item generation. The questionnaire was developed in Hindi language by five experts in the field of pediatrics, pediatric orthopaedics and community medicine using Delphi method. After language correction from Hindi language experts, a convenient sample of 30 participants filled the questionnaire and tested for internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Results: The overall Cronbach's alpha value for the finalized 46-item scale indicated an acceptable reliability (alpha = 0.91). The internal consistency reliability for six domains created was acceptable. The results revealed 'high' test-retest reliability, and there was no statistically significant difference noted between any of the first test and re-test corresponding values (p>0.05). Conclusion: The present questionnaire developed in Hindi Language to assess knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of parents towards Calcium & Vitamin-D deficiency in children, has a good validity and reliability. This newly developed instrument could prove its use to highlight the gaps that may exist among parents. The use of this tool may help clinicians, health educators and policy makers to identify key areas of intervention with regards to Calcium & Vitamin-D deficiency in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fixed orthodontic treatment has been the standard method to treat malocclusions for decades; however, the number of adults seeking more inconspicuous ways to enhance their smiles has significantly increased. This trend has led to the rising popularity of clear aligners among the general population, hailed as the 'invisible treatment' for correcting misaligned teeth. Aim: To assess the level of awareness among residents of Maharashtra regarding clear aligners. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, School of Dental Sciences, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth (KVV) Karad, Maharashtra, India with a sample size of 423 participants. An online survey on awareness and perceptions of clear aligners among the general population of Maharashtra was carried out for one month through the dissemination of an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered using Google Forms and consisted of 12 closed-ended questions. The online data was collected and analysed while assessing its content validity. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 28.4±5.88 years. According to the survey, 203 (47.99%) participants had visited an orthodontist, with 87 (43.03%) receiving clear aligner recommendations as a treatment option. Notably, 266 (62.88%) were already familiar with clear aligners, and 268 (63.36%) considered them to be an effective treatment. Conclusion: The study findings indicated that 62.88% of participants had prior knowledge of clear aligners, while only 47.99% had visited an orthodontist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]