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The objective of this study was to examine the acceptance and awareness of mothers with children with special needs regarding their children's special situation. A qualitative exploratory approach was employed in this study. Between November 2023 and January 2024, in-depth individual interviews were conducted with 22 mothers of children with special needsFour primary themes emerged from the mothers included in the study regarding their acceptance and awareness of their children's special situation: Challenges, Transformation, Adaptation, and Mistakes. The Challenges theme encompasses the child who deviates from expectations, lack of information, stigma, lack of support, burden of care, inadequacy, and guilt. The Transformation theme encompasses the concept of the special child, increased responsibilities, attitude toward the social environment, and normal means of blessing. The Adaptation theme encompasses the sub-themes of treatment and care, family dynamics, spirituality, and social. The Mistakes theme encompasses the sub-themes of dependency on the child, dependency of the child, and allowing secondary gain. The parents demonstrated a willingness to accept and be aware of their children's special condition, which facilitated the process of transformation and adaptation. In order for parents to undergo the transformation process more expeditiously, it is necessary to enhance their acceptance and awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The oral health needs of frail older adults are increasing with an aging population in Canada. The objective of this study was to explore the perceptions of dentists in British Columbia regarding their view of geriatric dentistry as a distinct scope of practice and in relation to special needs dentistry. Methods and results: Qualitative data were gathered thorough semi guided interviews of a purposeful sample of dental clinicians, educators and members of organized dentistry with specialized knowledge of oral health for frail older adults. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using a thematic approach. Thematic saturation was reached with the 10 participants in this study. Through the method of interpretative description, patient, dentist, and systemic factors that shaped scope of practice for geriatric dentistry were identified as well as the broader skill sets required for geriatric dentistry. Conclusion: The study found that participants perceived geriatric dentistry as unique scope of practice from general dentistry requiring special knowledge in the management of challenges associated with aging with frailty as well as the ability to work in long‐term care. Similar to special needs dentistry, geriatric dentistry requires person‐centered care and emphasized the need for interprofessional collaboration in alternative care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim(s): To identify, synthesise and map systematic reviews of the effectiveness of nursing interventions undertaken in a neonatal intensive care unit or special care nursery. Design: This scoping review was conducted according to the JBI scoping review framework. Methods: Review included systematic reviews that evaluated any nurse‐initiated interventions that were undertaken in an NICU or SCN setting. Studies that reported one or more positive outcomes related to the nursing interventions were only considered for this review. Each outcome for nursing interventions was rated a 'certainty (quality) of evidence' according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations criteria. Data Sources: Systematic reviews were sourced from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence Synthesis for reviews published until February 2023. Results: A total of 428 articles were identified; following screening, 81 reviews underwent full‐text screening, and 34 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Multiple nursing interventions reporting positive outcomes were identified and were grouped into seven categories. Respiratory 7/34 (20%) and Nutrition 8/34 (23%) outcomes were the most reported categories. Developmental care was the next most reported category 5/34 (15%) followed by Thermoregulation, 5/34 (15%) Jaundice 4/34 (12%), Pain 4/34 (12%) and Infection 1/34 (3%). Conclusions: This review has identified nursing interventions that have a direct positive impact on neonatal outcomes. However, further applied research is needed to transfer this empirical knowledge into clinical practice. Implications for the profession and/or patient care: Implementing up‐to‐date evidence on effective nursing interventions has the potential to significantly improving neonatal outcomes. Patient or public contribution: No patient or public involvement in this scoping review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Treating anterior restorations is a real challenge for a dentist and conventional protocols are not always applicable. The aim of this study is to determine different therapeutic to conducting anterior restorations in disabled people. Case report: We begin by presenting the case of a 23‐year‐old, handicapped man, who was brought in consultation to compensate for the loss of the left upper central incisor (#21). Materials and methods: We then performed a systematic literature review in December 2022, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The publications, on three databases, dealing with dental treatments on disabled people were selected whether they were clinical studies or case reports. Results: In the end, 14 publications were included. Most of the treatments described in the studies (n = 10; 71.43%) concern people aged under 19. The patients present different types of handicaps with various degrees of severity and the oral diseases described are as heterogeneous as the handicaps retrieved. Discussion: It is therefore difficult to make common treatment recommendations for all these variable profiles and situations. Most of patients in this study are very young, so there is a need for preventive and therapeutic care as earlier as possible, to preserve the vitality of their teeth and dental occlusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Pain is one of the most common symptoms in the patients hospitalized in intensive care units, and its correct and timely diagnosis is important. Identifying tools that accurately assess pain in a shorter time will help patients better manage pain. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy and the duration of response to behavioral pain scales (BPS and CPOT) during painful procedures in the intensive care unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The descriptive-comparative study was conducted in two groups, each including 16 nurses, in the intensive care unit of Besat Hospital in Hamadan in 2022. Each group separately evaluated the patients’ pain during position change and secretion suction based on BPS and CPOT scales along with an evaluator. At the same time, the accuracy of the scores given by each nurse and the duration of pain diagnosis were compared using the determined evaluator, and the results were analysed. RESULTS: Comparing the durations of response to the scales, the average duration of response for BPS and CPOT tools were 13.21 and 13.63, respectively; in general, their difference was significant (P < 0.001). Examining the accuracy of the nurses and the evaluators in pain evaluation revealed a significant difference between the two tools, and the results of adaptability were higher for CPOT, in all cases, in comparison with BPS (P = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that CPOT assesses the pain more accurately compared to BPS, but the duration of pain evaluation is a little longer via CPOT. The results of the study can help the nurses working in ICUs by choosing more accurate tools with shorter evaluation duration.

Introduction: There is no agreed taxonomy of the techniques used to support patients to receive professional oral healthcare. This lack of specification leads to imprecision in describing, understanding, teaching and implementing behaviour support techniques in dentistry (DBS). Methods: This review aims to identify the labels and associated descriptors used by practitioners to describe DBS techniques, as a first step in developing a shared terminology for DBS techniques. Following registration of a protocol, a scoping review limited to Clinical Practice Guidelines only was undertaken to identify the labels and descriptors used to refer to DBS techniques. Results: From 5317 screened records, 30 were included, generating a list of 51 distinct DBS techniques. General anaesthesia was the most commonly reported DBS (n = 21). This review also explores what term is given to DBS techniques as a group (Behaviour management was most commonly used (n = 8)) and how these techniques were categorized (mainly distinguishing between pharmacological and non‐pharmacological). Conclusions: This is the first attempt to generate a list of techniques that can be selected for patients and marks an initial step in future efforts at agreeing and categorizing these techniques into an accepted taxonomy, with all the benefits this brings to research, education, practice and patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Transfer from a wheelchair and discomfort in dental chair are two important barriers for access to dental care among wheelchair-bound patients. The authors have devised an automated wheelchair recliner that helps to mimic the dental chair functioning at wheelchair itself. The aim of this study was to analyze the performance and acceptability of wheelchair recliner among wheelchair-bound patients. Settings and Design: Tertiary care settings, cross-sectional design. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 wheelchair-bound adult patients (aged >21 years) were evaluated for acceptability of the recliner. The patients were assessed using eight-item covering patient comfort/acceptability related to positioning, reclining, repositioning, fear of falls, joy, discomfort, perception regarding dentist's discomfort, and use in future on a scale of 0-4 with 0 indicating least satisfying and four indicating most satisfying experience. Overall, patient experience was graded as poor, fair, good, very good, and excellent. The Chi-square test was used to compare the results. Statistical Analysis Used: IBM Stats package 21.0 was used. Mean ± standard deviation, Numbers/percentages and Chi-square test were used to compare results. The confidence level of the study was 95%. Results: The age of patients ranged from 22 to 83 years (mean age 52.26 ± 18.58 years). Majority were males (58%) and had temporary (60%) disability. On a 4-point scale, the mean scores of patients ranged from 2.47 ± 1.23 (positioning) to 3.40 ± 0.74 (intent to use in future). Overall experience was rated as good to very good by 77% of patients. No significant association of age, sex, or type of disability was seen with overall patient experience. Conclusion: The acceptability rates were good to very good among wheelchair-bound patients and were unaffected by their age, sex, and type of disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compile the literature available about the oral health and dental care of the deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) population.Materials and Methods: The study question of this scoping review was 'What are the main findings reported in the literature about oral health and dental care of the DHH population?' The following databases were included: Web of Science, LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, GoogleScholar and Redalyc. Full-text articles published in peer-reviewed journals, in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, from the January 2000 to January 2018 were selected with qualitative and quantitative methods. All study designs were included in the review with the exception of letters to the editor and case reports.Results: A total of fifty articles were selected for analysis. DHH population has poorer oral hygiene and a higher prevalence of caries than their non DHH peers. DHH also report significant struggles with oral health and dental access. Most dentists experienced difficulties communicating with their DHH patients.Conclusions: This scoping review is the first known that centers on DHH oral health and their dental care. Efforts to develop accessible dental health programmes are needed to address apparent oral health inequities in the DHH population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the characteristics of oral health interventions implemented in prison settings and explore the barriers and facilitators towards implementation. Methods: Following Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology, six databases were searched including Medline (R), Emcare, Embase, AMED, Cochrane and PsycINFO. A total of 978 studies were returned and screened. The inclusion criteria were those studies conducted in a prison population, with an intervention to address oral health and published since 2000. Results: Ten studies published between 2008 and 2021 were included. All were conducted in high‐income countries. Three intervention types were identified: health education (n = 5), teledentistry (n = 3) and screening or triaging (n = 2). The barriers and facilitators to successful implementation were grouped into a framework of four overarching concepts. These included prison environment, population makeup, compliance and staffing. Clinical Significance: Evidence suggests that oral health interventions in prisons are focused on improving access to services and oral health messages. A range of drivers including the prison environment, staffing levels, recruitment and intervention compliance influence implementation and the success of interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of acute leukemia during pregnancy is a rare pathologic situation and requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes at least a hematologist, gynecologist, neurologist, or psychotherapist and sometimes even intensive care unit care. The difficulties in caring for such a patient are many, from determining the risk associated with continuing the pregnancy, to choosing diagnostic tools and therapy appropriate for such a situation, to considering the patient's wishes and preferences. Below, we present the approach for cases of acute leukemia in pregnancy diagnosed and treated at the Emergency University Hospital of Bucharest (SUUB), Hematology Department, between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2022, during a 6-year period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental general anesthesia (GA) is a day-stay procedure and is a suitable choice for complicated cases. It is undertaken in a controlled hospital setting that ensures the quality, safety, efficacy, and efficiency of dental treatment. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence, severity, duration, and factors related to the occurrence of postoperative discomfort in young children following GA in a general hospital. This study includes a minimum sample size of 23 children that were undergoing GA over a 1-month period. Informed consent was obtained from the parent prior to the treatment. A preoperative questionnaire via the Survey Monkey program was used for the purposes of recording the responses of the survey population. All data related to the immediate postoperative period while the child was in the post-anesthetic recovery room (PAR) was collected and assessed by one of the investigators using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) pain assessment scale. Postoperative data was gathered using the Dental Discomfort Questionnaire (DDQ-8) and was performed by phone 3 days after the GA procedure. The participating 23 children ranged from 4 to 9 years old (mean 5.43 ± 1.53). A total of 65.2% were girls and 34.8% were boys, with 30.4% experiencing a recent history of pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Patients with intellectual disabilities often fail to follow traditional tongue position instructions for panoramic radiographs resulting in missed pathology or unnecessary further radiation. This simple breathing technique is a new clinical instruction method for panoramic radiography developed to reduce the most common patient position error: patient failure to hold the tongue to the roof of the mouth. The technique is suitable for all patients including young patients and those with intellectual disabilities. The simple breathing technique uses ‘tell‐show‐do’ communication methods and does not mention the tongue but utilises the known tongue positions that occur during breathing and swallowing. This simple breathing technique instruction for panoramic radiography uses a demonstration of ‘breathe‐in, breathe‐out, swallow, lips closed and hold still’ to reduce the intensity of both the palatoglossal and pharyngeal airspaces on panoramic radiographs. This method, referred in this article as the simple breathing technique, can improve the diagnostic potential of panoramic radiographs and can be used with young children and patients with intellectual disabilities, and this slow breathing technique can help them further relax.

Abstract Background This study aimed to explore the challenges experienced in dental health care by professionals and caregivers of persons with special needs in Trinidad and Tobago. This research presented results from the first qualitative study which gained insight into the service component of dental care for people with special needs in this country. Methods This qualitative study was conducted between March and June 2021. Recruitment of participants used both purposive and snowball sampling. A semi-structured interview schedule was used in the interviews of dentists, (a dental assistant), physicians and caregivers of people with special needs. Narrative inquiry was used in data analysis. The transcripts were individually coded and a follow-up peer debriefing session to cross reference responses and increase the validity of the analysis was performed. Results Barriers related to the provision of dental care included readiness of health care professionals, the level of specialized care and the resources required for patient treatment. Caregivers encountered barriers such as cost and lack of accessible dental care for persons with special needs. Possible solutions were education of key stakeholders, policy intervention, advocacy and prevention strategies. Conclusions Caregivers and allied health care professions experience multiple barriers when treating patients with special needs. Study participants indicated a need change in the provision and access of dental services for people with special needs. Education of healthcare professionals, improved social policies and health promotion is warranted.

This paper addresses general aspects of burn-out and coping mechanisms in the context of the professional activity of workers in Social care (Child Protection). According to the National Authority for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Children and Adoptions (ANDPDCA, 2021), the main responsibilities of Child Protection are the evaluation and monitoring of the special protection measure for children and families. The evaluation and monitoring process involves all the workers in the multidisciplinary team, namely: social workers, psychologists, educators, nurses, etc. and also administrative support staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with intellectual disabilities often fail to follow traditional tongue position instructions for panoramic radiographs resulting in missed pathology or unnecessary further radiation. This simple breathing technique is a new clinical instruction method for panoramic radiography developed to reduce the most common patient position error: patient failure to hold the tongue to the roof of the mouth. The technique is suitable for all patients including young patients and those with intellectual disabilities. The simple breathing technique uses 'tell‐show‐do' communication methods and does not mention the tongue but utilises the known tongue positions that occur during breathing and swallowing. This simple breathing technique instruction for panoramic radiography uses a demonstration of 'breathe‐in, breathe‐out, swallow, lips closed and hold still' to reduce the intensity of both the palatoglossal and pharyngeal airspaces on panoramic radiographs. This method, referred in this article as the simple breathing technique, can improve the diagnostic potential of panoramic radiographs and can be used with young children and patients with intellectual disabilities, and this slow breathing technique can help them further relax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to explore the challenges experienced in dental health care by professionals and caregivers of persons with special needs in Trinidad and Tobago. This research presented results from the first qualitative study which gained insight into the service component of dental care for people with special needs in this country. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted between March and June 2021. Recruitment of participants used both purposive and snowball sampling. A semi-structured interview schedule was used in the interviews of dentists, (a dental assistant), physicians and caregivers of people with special needs. Narrative inquiry was used in data analysis. The transcripts were individually coded and a follow-up peer debriefing session to cross reference responses and increase the validity of the analysis was performed. Results: Barriers related to the provision of dental care included readiness of health care professionals, the level of specialized care and the resources required for patient treatment. Caregivers encountered barriers such as cost and lack of accessible dental care for persons with special needs. Possible solutions were education of key stakeholders, policy intervention, advocacy and prevention strategies. Conclusions: Caregivers and allied health care professions experience multiple barriers when treating patients with special needs. Study participants indicated a need change in the provision and access of dental services for people with special needs. Education of healthcare professionals, improved social policies and health promotion is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late preterm infants (LPIs) represent a significant percentage of all neonates (6-8%), but there are limited published data on their postnatal management. Our aim was to compare the frequency of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and the breastfeeding rate of LPIs born at 35+0-36+6 weeks of gestation who were cared for by initial rooming in strategy rather than directly admitted to the special care unit (SCU) and, eventually, to the NICU. We carried out a retrospective study in the perinatal centers of Careggi University Hospital (CUH) and San Giovanni di Dio Hospital in Florence, Italy, where the first and second strategies were applied, respectively. Main outcomes were LPIs admission rate at SCU/NICU and breastfeeding rate at discharge. We studied 190 LPIs born at SGDH and 240 born at CUH. The admission rate in SCU (81 vs. 43%; P < 0.001) and NICU (20 vs. 10%; P = 0.008) was higher in SGDH than in CUH, as was the exclusive breastfeeding rate (36 vs. 22%; P < 0.001). However, infants who were assisted in rooming-in at CUH and infants with similar clinical characteristics at SGDH had similar mixed (60 vs. 69%) and exclusive (35 vs. 31%) breastfeeding rates.  Conclusion: Postnatal assistance of LPIs in rooming-in, eventually followed by admission in SCU/NICU based on their clinical conditions, allowed to safely halve their hospitalization. The assistance of infants in rooming-in did not negatively affect their breastfeeding rate. These results support the possibility of assisting LPIs in rooming-in. What is Known: • Late preterm infants represent a significant percentage of all neonates. • Early rooming-in and breastfeeding is recommended for late preterm infants. What is New: • Postnatal assistance of late preterm infants in rooming-in, followed when necessary by admission in neonatal units based on clinical conditions, allowed to safely avoid about half the number of hospitalizations in comparison with direct admission in neonatal units. • This strategy did not affect breastfeeding rate. Infants who were admitted to SCU/NICU after initial rooming-in had worst breastfeeding rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Previous research has demonstrated that autistic individuals often experience difficulties accessing dental care, both as a result of autism specific difficulties and practitioners' attitudes towards autism. However, very little research exists that explores dental professionals' experiences of providing care to their autistic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the strategies UK‐based dental professionals' use when working with autistic patients Methods and Results: In this study, dental professionals (n = 16) from a variety of specialty roles (special care, paediatrics, orthodontics) were interviewed. We asked participants to talk through, in depth, specific cases they had encountered in their practice, what sorts of accommodations they had provided, and what concerns had arisen during appointments. Thematic analysis was used to analyses the data and revealed four main themes: the unique dental needs associated with being autistic, effective adaptations to practice, the crucial role of the caregiver, and the importance of specialist knowledge Conclusion: Recommendations for how dentists can improve the dental experiences of autistic patients can be drawn from the specialist dentists' responses in this study. These include involving autistic patients in decisions about their treatment and being flexible and willing to work with autistic patients and their caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School-age children are not immune to COVID-19 or the pronounced and persistent symptoms associated with a long-COVID diagnosis. Students may present with a variety of symptoms affecting their physical, cognitive, and mental health. The school community should be educated on the school-based interventions and recommendations for creating an individualized safe and successful return to school plan. As we await approval for vaccinations in school-age children younger than 12 years and continue to reposition ourselves to the waves of this pandemic and new variants of the virus, understanding the medical and educational long-term effects on our students may be a long-term need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental general anesthesia (GA) is a day-stay procedure and is a suitable choice for complicated cases. It is undertaken in a controlled hospital setting that ensures the quality, safety, efficacy, and efficiency of dental treatment. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence, severity, duration, and factors related to the occurrence of postoperative discomfort in young children following GA in a general hospital. This study includes a minimum sample size of 23 children that were undergoing GA over a 1-month period. Informed consent was obtained from the parent prior to the treatment. A preoperative questionnaire via the Survey Monkey program was used for the purposes of recording the responses of the survey population. All data related to the immediate postoperative period while the child was in the post-anesthetic recovery room (PAR) was collected and assessed by one of the investigators using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) pain assessment scale. Postoperative data was gathered using the Dental Discomfort Questionnaire (DDQ-8) and was performed by phone 3 days after the GA procedure. The participating 23 children ranged from 4 to 9 years old (mean 5.43 ± 1.53). A total of 65.2% were girls and 34.8% were boys, with 30.4% experiencing a recent history of pain.

Aims: Disability is a key social determinant of health. The objective of this study was to test the association between disability status and irregular dental attendance among the Australian population, and to examine whether the observed association varied among adolescents. Methods: Data on 17 501 participants from The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) were analysed. The main outcome examined was irregular dental attendance (two or more years since last dental visit) with disability as the primary exposure. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to test the associations between disability and dental attendance pattern. Models were adjusted for age, gender, country of birth, region of residence, education and income. Analysis was repeated among adolescents (15‐ to 24‐year‐old) to examine for variations in observed association. Results: One in four participants reported having a disability. Unadjusted model showed that the odds for irregular dental attendance were 1.40 times greater (95%; CI, 1.30‐1.51) in those with disability than those without disability. After adjusting for all covariates, participants with disability had 1.20 times higher odds (95%; CI 1.10‐1.30) of irregular dental attendance than those without disability. Irregular dental attendance was 1.41 times greater (95%; CI 1.10‐1.80) in those with disability aged 15‐24 years than those without disability. Conclusions: Australian individuals with disability are more likely to have irregular dental attendance than those without. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To undertake a realist review of carer‐led oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities. This was run parallel with a Cochrane Review. Methods: Realist review methods were followed. This was characterized by an iterative process of developing and refining theories of how interventions might work, expressed as context‐mechanism‐outcome configurations. The steps included identifying candidate theories with local and international expert consultation before applying an iterative search strategy. Selection criteria were applied for screening of the abstracts and 10% of the included full texts were screened by the three review members, independently, to ensure adherence to the criteria. Data were extracted in NVivo and synthesized qualitatively to confirm, refute or refine theories about what works, why, in what circumstances and for whom. Results: Of the 697 potential sources, 112 studies progressed to full‐text screening, and 58 of those were included in the review. These 58 studies found evidence to support six theories about carer‐led oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities, from a starting point of ten candidate theories. This realist review found evidence to support the contention that, in order for carer‐led oral hygiene interventions for people with ID to succeed, there is a need for adequate resources and a system‐level approach; involving carers in design and implementation; tailoring of training to suit carers' needs and work environments; clearly stating how interventions are expected to work; specifying goals with achievable steps for carers to follow; providing carers with support and feedback on their efforts; acknowledging the physical and emotional toll caring for people with intellectual disabilities has on the well‐being of carers; and repeating training. Conclusions: The theories from this realist review will direct future interventions by suggesting the mechanisms and contexts that are important to achieve the intended outcome of improved oral health for people with intellectual disabilities. These are, of course, propositions intended for testing, rather than proven. The parallel use of Cochrane and realist methods provides a unique richness to our hypothesis of what works, for whom, when and how. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of the social story‐based intervention in promoting the oral health status among preschool children with special healthcare needs. Methods: The 24‐month randomized controlled trial recruited 306 children from centres that provided educational training for 2‐ to 6‐year‐old children who had special healthcare needs. The participants received standardized toothbrushing training and oral health education materials. The education materials for children in the test group were validated social stories, while materials for children in the control group were standard leaflets. Those materials were introduced in each training session and used at home by parents. Children's oral health status and oral health‐related behaviours were assessed before and after interventions. Data were analysed via generalized estimating equations, negative binomial regression and binary logistic regression. Results: There was no significant difference in caries experience among children in both groups after 24 months. However, children in the test group showed better oral hygiene status and better toothbrushing performance, and they were more likely to visit a dentist (OR = 2.00, 95% CI:1.15,3.49) than their peers in the control group. Caries progression was more likely to be observed among children who had low social skills or whose parents were not working full‐time. Children from high‐income families showed better oral hygiene status than their peers (Estimate = −0.11, 95%CI: −0.20,−0.01). Conclusion: Social stories could be used to improve oral health‐related behaviours among young children with SHCN. The efficacy of the intervention might be associated with children's adaptive skills and family socio‐demographic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Psychiatric inpatients suffer from poorer oral health than the general population, and difficulties in accessing necessary dental treatment remain even when a dedicated dental service is available within the psychiatric hospital. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to access dental care from the point of view of dentists working within French psychiatric hospitals. Methods: The relatively small number of dentists working in psychiatric hospitals necessitated a qualitative approach. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed and coded in a conventional content analysis approach. Results: Eight interviews were conducted. Six of the dentists interviewed were men, and two were women. Three of them worked full‐time in a psychiatric facility, while the other five worked partly in the hospital and partly in private practice. The average duration for interviews was 54 minutes (minimum 24 min, maximum 89 min). The interviews highlighted three dimensions of barriers to access to dental care. The first dimension was directly related to the patient. This may be linked to the patient's psychiatric disorder but not necessarily. This also encompasses refusal of care. A second dimension regrouped events related to the organization of the hospital (locally), such as communication issues between staff members within the dental office, and with other staff members from the psychiatric ward. A third dimension included difficulties related to the overall organization of the healthcare system, including financial issues and deinstitutionalization. Conclusions: In‐site dental consultations appear as an interesting tool to enhance access to oral care for psychiatric inpatients. However, difficulties remain from the dentists' perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A presented paper is reviewed for the Special Care Dentistry (SCD) teaching of dental undergraduates from different continents and compared it to the current SCD education scene in Malaysia. Related literature were reviewed together with the current updates of SCD in Malaysia as an overview to bridge the gap for SCD teaching, planning the learning outcomes, and the curriculum guidelines. It highlights the barriers, similarities, and the different approaches applied in Malaysia. Constructing the SCD curriculum and adhering to it is a challenge. Most countries will be bound to the local expectations and needs to be able to construct their national guidelines. The literature shows the difference in approach of teaching SCD globally. Different factors such as lack of SCD expertise, lack of disabled-friendly facilities, overloaded curriculum, and lack of educational resources were highlighted in the literature as factors that can halt the SCD education. Educators need to incorporate the learning outcomes, the local needs, and/or curriculum guidelines within their institutions to design the content of their own programs. The Malaysian experience can be an example of a southeast Asian approach in SCD education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Providing oral hygiene in patients with a tracheal tube in the mouth is one of the most important tasks of nurses. This study has been conducted with the aim of comparing the effects of two mouthwash solutions (chlorhexidine and orthodentol) on the oral hygiene of patients with respiratory ventilation device and hospitalized in intensive care units. Methods: This is a clinical trial in which 90 patients with oral tracheal tube entered the study through simple sampling method. Inclusion criteria were being insensitive to herbal compounds and aged 15-85 years. They were divided randomly into two intervention (orthodentol) and control (chlorhexidine) groups. Each group had 45 subjects. The Beck Oral Hygiene Checklist was used to collect data (before and after intervention). Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Patients in intervention and control groups were similar in terms of demographic characteristics, oral hygiene, and other characteristics. Oral hygiene in patients in both orthodentol and chlorhexidine groups had a significant improvement after intervention. Conclusion: The comparison of orthodentol and chlorhexidine oral mucosal effects showed that oral hygiene of patients hospitalized in intensive care units was improved to a certain extent. Considering the benefits of herbal compounds, orthodentol mouthwash can be mentioned as an appropriate alternative for chlorhexidine.

Aims and Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate the referral patterns and treatment needs of patients managed by the special care dentistry (SCD) clinic specialists at a Malaysian teaching dental hospital, in preparation for improved oral health services for this patient population. Materials and Methods: The dental records of patients who attended the SCD clinic between January and December 2017, were reviewed for information, including sociodemographic characteristics, sources and reasons for referral, dental treatment needs, and medical profile. Quantitative data were analyzed via the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version (chi-squared test, P < 0.01). Results: A total of 182 patients were managed in 2017, consisting mostly of Malays (89.6%) and with a majority being males (63.2%) in the 0-20 years age group (69.8%). A slight prevalence of adolescent/adult patients (52.2%) was reported as compared with that of pediatric patients (47.8%), with no significant difference between the genders. Many of the patients were encountered within the mobile dental service program (53.8%) and mostly first presented for routine checkups (66.5%). Treatment needs included periodontal therapy (76.9%), restoration (47.3%), exodontia (28.0%), and dentures (12.1%). The patient study sample additionally boasted physical impairments (58.8%), complex medical conditions (32.4%), psychiatric disorders (8.8%), and intellectual disabilities (8.2%). Systemic health issues included cardiovascular (18.7%), respiratory (9.9%), and endocrine (7.7%) disorders. Significant differences in the numbers of patients with physical disabilities and complex medical conditions were observed across age groups. Conclusion: This study provides important information for the future development of SCD services at the institutional and national levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Dental treatment is necessary in oncology patients since pre-existing oro-dental disease may influence cancer treatment and prognosis. This study investigated the applicability of two indices in reflecting the actual oral health status of 100 non-cancer patients who were admitted for dental complaints/routine controls.

Introduction: Complete edentulism is an eventual oral health outcome and results from the combined pathology of dental caries, periodontal disease, or faulty method of rehabilitation due to reduced cost. Complete edentulism has a significant concern and leads to reduced quality of life (QoL) along with impact on general health. However, it has been observed that due to wider and better oral health services globally, edentulism rate is decreasing every decade. Edentulism is directly related to masticatory and nutritional problems, and some authors regard it as a good mortality indicator. Methodology: The sample population consisted of 100 individuals comprising 63 males and 37 females who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Geriatric oral health assessment index (GOHAI) was administered by a single investigator at baseline (preinsertion) and also 6 and 12 months postdenture insertion. Sociodemographic data, including age and gender, were also collected. Results: It was observed that the overall oral health-related QoL (OHRQoL) scores of the sample improved significantly at 6 and 12 months postinsertion (P < 0.001) when compared to baseline scores. When GOHAI scores were compared individually for males and females (pre- and post-insertion), it was observed that there was statistically significant improvement in OHRQoL (male - pre = 25.02 ± 1.34 and post-12 months = 8.84 ± 1.26, P < 0.001, female - pre = 25.19 ± 0.88 and post-12 months = 9.05 ± 1.20, P < 0.001) postinsertion of denture in both the groups. Conclusion: OHRQoL in patients improved after complete denture rehabilitation. There was an upward shift in score for each item in GOHAI from preinsertion to 6 and 12 months postinsertion of dentures, reflecting improvement in OHRQoL of the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]