Background: Little is known about factors associated with the severity of cleft lip with or witho... more Background: Little is known about factors associated with the severity of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) especially during COVID-19 pandemic with its dramatic changes. Objectives: The aim of this multi-national study is to measure the association between CL/P severity, COVID-19 infection, and fear of COVID-19 in Five-Arab countries. Methods: This cross-sectional study took place in major governmental hospitals in Five-Arab countries from November-2020 to April-2023. Participants were infants born with CL/P and their mothers who were in their 1sttrimester during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical examination was carried out and CL/P cases were grouped according to phenotype (cleft lip and palate (CLP) versus cleft lip (CL)), cleft extension (incomplete versus complete) and site (unilateral versus bilateral) to assess severity. Information on maternal COVID-19 infection and fear of COVID-19 were gathered. Results: The study recruited 274 CL/P infants. Maternal COVID-19 inf...
This study aims to assess whether parents of children who previously received comprehensive denta... more This study aims to assess whether parents of children who previously received comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA) would prefer comprehensive dental treatment under GA over regular dental care if any of their other children required comprehensive dental treatment. In this cross-sectional study, parents of children who met the inclusion criteria were interviewed by a trained pediatric resident about parental-related factors as well as their satisfaction with their previous GA experience. Also, the factors related to the previously treated child were obtained from dental records. Statistical analysis was carried out, and the p value was set to 0.05. A total number of 306 parents were included. Although most parents, 293 (95.8%), showed satisfaction with the previous GA, 170 (58%) of the satisfied parents preferred regular care. Parents of children who were previously treated under GA for medical-related reasons (p = 0.018), fathers working in a governmental sec...
Objectives: To investigate the association between dental anxiety and birth order among children ... more Objectives: To investigate the association between dental anxiety and birth order among children seeking dental treatment at King Abdulaziz University Dental Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A total sample of 306 children aged 6-12 years were enrolled in a cross-sectional descriptive study. Demographic background data on the family and childbirth order were collected using a validated questionnaire. The Abeer dental anxiety scale (ADAS) was used to assess the dental anxiety level, while the Frankl scale was used to assess behavior during dental treatment. Binary Regression analysis was carried out to evaluate the effect of sociodemographic factors on the child’s anxiety and behavior according to the ADAS and Frankl scale, respectively. Results: The childbirth order had a significant effect on the anxiety score (p<0.0001). The ADAS score in middle-born children was statistically significantly lower than that of only children, first-borns and last-borns (p=0.018). Further, there was a statistically significant effect of childbirth order on behavior according to the Frankl scale (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The presence of siblings and childbirth order are significant indicators of children’s behavior and anxiety during dental treatment. This study provides valuable information that can help pediatric dentists plan behavior management for children.
Work-a Journal of Prevention Assessment & Rehabilitation, May 10, 2023
BACKGROUND: Dentistry is a profession that demands a high level of physical work and excessive re... more BACKGROUND: Dentistry is a profession that demands a high level of physical work and excessive repetitive movements in strained positions, both of which are risk factors for developing musculoskeletal pain (MS-P). OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the awareness of ergonomics and physical activities in controlling MS-P among dental students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted at a university dental hospital in Saudi Arabia, through a validated self-administered questionnaire, distributed to undergraduates and postgraduate’s dental students. RESULTS: Out of 402 students responded to the questionnaire, 337(83.8%) reported suffering from MS-P with 67.7% of participants did not take any measures to alleviate their symptoms and the majority reported limited physical activity. Females reported significantly higher MS-P than males. Lower back (56.5%), neck (56.2%) and shoulder (50%) were the most frequently reported MS-P. Unexpectedly, undergraduate reporting significantly more pain than interns and postgraduate students (P = 0.009). The dental students’ awareness of ergonomics and MSDs were insufficient. CONCLUSION: Physical activity, student’s awareness of MSD and ergonomics were the major factors for controlling MS-Ps. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of enhancing students’ knowledge of the importance of controlling work-related MS-P, especially during their university educational hours.
Background Maintaining good oral hygiene is key to preventing dental caries and periodontal disea... more Background Maintaining good oral hygiene is key to preventing dental caries and periodontal disease. Children and adolescents with good oral hygiene behaviours are likely to grow into adults with the same behaviours. This study assessed the frequency of using various oral hygiene methods among children and adolescents from different countries and individual, familial and country-level factors associated with the use of these methods. Methods A multi-country online survey collected data from caregivers of children in 2020–21 about children’s use of oral hygiene methods including toothbrush, fluoridated toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss and miswak using self-administered, close-ended questions. Adjusted multilevel logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between each of the five oral hygiene methods (dependent variables) and the independent factors: sex, age, and history of dental visits (individual factors), mother's education and area of residence (famil...
This study aimed to assess the proportion of adolescents and young people (AYP) in Nigeria who ch... more This study aimed to assess the proportion of adolescents and young people (AYP) in Nigeria who changed their frequency of e-cigarette use and tobacco smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic; and factors associated with the increase, decrease or no change in e-cigarette use and tobacco smoking (including night smoking). This study was a cross-sectional study of AYP recruited from all geopolitical zones in the country. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine if respondents’ health HIV and COVID-19 status and anxiety levels were associated with changes in e-cigarette use and tobacco smoking frequency. There were 568 (59.5%) e-cigarette users, of which 188 (33.1%) increased and 70 (12.3%) decreased e-cigarette use and 389 (68.5%) increased night e-cigarette use. There were 787 (82.4%) current tobacco smokers, of which 305 (38.8%) increased and 102 (13.0%) decreased tobacco smoking and 534 (67.9%) increased night tobacco smoking. Having a medical condition was ...
Background Oral diseases are features of COVID-19 infection. There is, however, little known abou... more Background Oral diseases are features of COVID-19 infection. There is, however, little known about oral diseases associated with COVID-19 in adolescents and young adults (AYA). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess oral lesions’ association with COVID-19 infection in AYA; and to identify if sex and age will modify these associations. Methodology Data was collected for this cross-sectional study between August 2020 and January 2021 from 11-to-23 years old participants in 43-countries using an electronic validated questionnaire developed in five languages. Data collected included information on the dependent variables (the presence of oral conditions- gingival inflammation, dry mouth, change in taste and oral ulcers), independent variable (COVID-19 infection) and confounders (age, sex, history of medical problems and parents’ educational level). Multilevel binary logistic regression was used for analysis. Results Complete data were available for 7164 AYA, with 7.5% reporting ...
Background: Little is known about factors associated with the severity of cleft lip with or witho... more Background: Little is known about factors associated with the severity of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) especially during COVID-19 pandemic with its dramatic changes. Objectives: The aim of this multi-national study is to measure the association between CL/P severity, COVID-19 infection, and fear of COVID-19 in Five-Arab countries. Methods: This cross-sectional study took place in major governmental hospitals in Five-Arab countries from November-2020 to April-2023. Participants were infants born with CL/P and their mothers who were in their 1sttrimester during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical examination was carried out and CL/P cases were grouped according to phenotype (cleft lip and palate (CLP) versus cleft lip (CL)), cleft extension (incomplete versus complete) and site (unilateral versus bilateral) to assess severity. Information on maternal COVID-19 infection and fear of COVID-19 were gathered. Results: The study recruited 274 CL/P infants. Maternal COVID-19 inf...
This study aims to assess whether parents of children who previously received comprehensive denta... more This study aims to assess whether parents of children who previously received comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA) would prefer comprehensive dental treatment under GA over regular dental care if any of their other children required comprehensive dental treatment. In this cross-sectional study, parents of children who met the inclusion criteria were interviewed by a trained pediatric resident about parental-related factors as well as their satisfaction with their previous GA experience. Also, the factors related to the previously treated child were obtained from dental records. Statistical analysis was carried out, and the p value was set to 0.05. A total number of 306 parents were included. Although most parents, 293 (95.8%), showed satisfaction with the previous GA, 170 (58%) of the satisfied parents preferred regular care. Parents of children who were previously treated under GA for medical-related reasons (p = 0.018), fathers working in a governmental sec...
Objectives: To investigate the association between dental anxiety and birth order among children ... more Objectives: To investigate the association between dental anxiety and birth order among children seeking dental treatment at King Abdulaziz University Dental Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A total sample of 306 children aged 6-12 years were enrolled in a cross-sectional descriptive study. Demographic background data on the family and childbirth order were collected using a validated questionnaire. The Abeer dental anxiety scale (ADAS) was used to assess the dental anxiety level, while the Frankl scale was used to assess behavior during dental treatment. Binary Regression analysis was carried out to evaluate the effect of sociodemographic factors on the child’s anxiety and behavior according to the ADAS and Frankl scale, respectively. Results: The childbirth order had a significant effect on the anxiety score (p<0.0001). The ADAS score in middle-born children was statistically significantly lower than that of only children, first-borns and last-borns (p=0.018). Further, there was a statistically significant effect of childbirth order on behavior according to the Frankl scale (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The presence of siblings and childbirth order are significant indicators of children’s behavior and anxiety during dental treatment. This study provides valuable information that can help pediatric dentists plan behavior management for children.
Work-a Journal of Prevention Assessment & Rehabilitation, May 10, 2023
BACKGROUND: Dentistry is a profession that demands a high level of physical work and excessive re... more BACKGROUND: Dentistry is a profession that demands a high level of physical work and excessive repetitive movements in strained positions, both of which are risk factors for developing musculoskeletal pain (MS-P). OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the awareness of ergonomics and physical activities in controlling MS-P among dental students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted at a university dental hospital in Saudi Arabia, through a validated self-administered questionnaire, distributed to undergraduates and postgraduate’s dental students. RESULTS: Out of 402 students responded to the questionnaire, 337(83.8%) reported suffering from MS-P with 67.7% of participants did not take any measures to alleviate their symptoms and the majority reported limited physical activity. Females reported significantly higher MS-P than males. Lower back (56.5%), neck (56.2%) and shoulder (50%) were the most frequently reported MS-P. Unexpectedly, undergraduate reporting significantly more pain than interns and postgraduate students (P = 0.009). The dental students’ awareness of ergonomics and MSDs were insufficient. CONCLUSION: Physical activity, student’s awareness of MSD and ergonomics were the major factors for controlling MS-Ps. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of enhancing students’ knowledge of the importance of controlling work-related MS-P, especially during their university educational hours.
Background Maintaining good oral hygiene is key to preventing dental caries and periodontal disea... more Background Maintaining good oral hygiene is key to preventing dental caries and periodontal disease. Children and adolescents with good oral hygiene behaviours are likely to grow into adults with the same behaviours. This study assessed the frequency of using various oral hygiene methods among children and adolescents from different countries and individual, familial and country-level factors associated with the use of these methods. Methods A multi-country online survey collected data from caregivers of children in 2020–21 about children’s use of oral hygiene methods including toothbrush, fluoridated toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss and miswak using self-administered, close-ended questions. Adjusted multilevel logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between each of the five oral hygiene methods (dependent variables) and the independent factors: sex, age, and history of dental visits (individual factors), mother's education and area of residence (famil...
This study aimed to assess the proportion of adolescents and young people (AYP) in Nigeria who ch... more This study aimed to assess the proportion of adolescents and young people (AYP) in Nigeria who changed their frequency of e-cigarette use and tobacco smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic; and factors associated with the increase, decrease or no change in e-cigarette use and tobacco smoking (including night smoking). This study was a cross-sectional study of AYP recruited from all geopolitical zones in the country. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine if respondents’ health HIV and COVID-19 status and anxiety levels were associated with changes in e-cigarette use and tobacco smoking frequency. There were 568 (59.5%) e-cigarette users, of which 188 (33.1%) increased and 70 (12.3%) decreased e-cigarette use and 389 (68.5%) increased night e-cigarette use. There were 787 (82.4%) current tobacco smokers, of which 305 (38.8%) increased and 102 (13.0%) decreased tobacco smoking and 534 (67.9%) increased night tobacco smoking. Having a medical condition was ...
Background Oral diseases are features of COVID-19 infection. There is, however, little known abou... more Background Oral diseases are features of COVID-19 infection. There is, however, little known about oral diseases associated with COVID-19 in adolescents and young adults (AYA). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess oral lesions’ association with COVID-19 infection in AYA; and to identify if sex and age will modify these associations. Methodology Data was collected for this cross-sectional study between August 2020 and January 2021 from 11-to-23 years old participants in 43-countries using an electronic validated questionnaire developed in five languages. Data collected included information on the dependent variables (the presence of oral conditions- gingival inflammation, dry mouth, change in taste and oral ulcers), independent variable (COVID-19 infection) and confounders (age, sex, history of medical problems and parents’ educational level). Multilevel binary logistic regression was used for analysis. Results Complete data were available for 7164 AYA, with 7.5% reporting ...
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