Oral health in Russian young adults: A study on determinants of dental health, dental anxiety, and oral health-related quality of life in medical and dental students in North-West Russia

Background: Dental caries and periodontal diseases are the most common oral diseases, affecting millions of people worldwide. These diseases are highly preventable; therefore any measures that promote oral health (OH) should be implemented at the community and individual level. Although programmes designed to prevent OH problems often focus on children, young adults aged 18-25 years are also an important target group for such programmes. Indeed, this age range comprises periods of biological, psychological, and social development and is a transition between adolescence and adulthood, when persons take responsibility for their health and may still change their health behaviour. Studying factors which may influence OH is extremely important to develop effective preventive programmes for young adults. In Russia, there is little information on OH and factors associated with OH in young adults. Thus, we conducted a study in a group of young medical and dental undergraduate students in North-West Russia. Objective: The study aimed to: i) investigate dental caries experience and determinants (socio-demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, and OH behaviour); ii) assess the prevalence of dental anxiety (DA) and to explore the association between DA and sociodemographic factors, socioeconomic factors, OH behaviour, general health, and OH; and iii) investigate how socio-demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, OH behaviour, selfreported OH characteristics, and clinically-assessed OH are related to OH-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 474 medical and 333 dental undergraduate students of Russian nationality aged 18-25 years from the Northern State Medical University (NSMU), Arkhangelsk, North-West Russia. Information on socio-demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, OH behaviour, general health, and OH was obtained from a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) was applied to measure DA. OHRQoL was measured by the short version of the OH Impact Profile with 14 items. A clinical dental examination was performed to assess dental caries experience, Simplified Oral Hygiene Index, and Gingival Index. Dental caries experience was based on the decayed (D) missing (M) filled (F) teeth (T) index (DMFT index). Results: The prevalence of dental caries (DMFT >0) was 96.0%, overall mean DMFT index was 7.58 (DT 0.61, MT 0.12, and FT 6.84). Older age, being a female, high subjective socioeconomic status, and skipping tooth-brushing were associated with a higher DMFT index. DMFT index also increased among students who reported regular dental visits, and these students also had lower odds of being in the dental caries-free group. High DA (DAS score ≥ 13) was found in 13.7% and 2.2% of medical and dental students, respectively. Female sex, lower mother’s education, and poor self-assessed OH were associated with DA in medical students. Corresponding factors in dental students were female sex, irregular dental visits, infrequent tooth-brushing, pain in mouth, and number of missing teeth due to dental caries. More than half of the students (53.6%) reported low OHRQoL during the last 12 months. Female sex, rural place of childhood residence, poor self-assessed dental aesthetic, dissatisfaction with mouth and teeth, and a higher DMFT index, were all significantly, independently associated with low OHRQoL. Conclusions: High prevalence of dental caries and high DMFT index, with a dominance of FT, were found among our Russian medical and dental undergraduate students. The level of DA was higher in medical than in dental students. The study also showed that OH affects students’ quality of life. Public health measures should focus on promoting dental literacy, increasing knowledge on the prevention of dental diseases, and motivating good OH habits to improve OH and OHRQoL in young adults in North-West Russia

Oral health in Russian young adults: A study on determinants of dental health, dental anxiety, and oral health-related quality of life in medical and dental students in North-West Russia

Background: Dental caries and periodontal diseases are the most common oral diseases, affecting millions of people worldwide. These diseases are highly preventable; therefore any measures that promote oral health (OH) should be implemented at the community and individual level. Although programmes designed to prevent OH problems often focus on children, young adults aged 18-25 years are also an important target group for such programmes. Indeed, this age range comprises periods of biological, psychological, and social development and is a transition between adolescence and adulthood, when persons take responsibility for their health and may still change their health behaviour. Studying factors which may influence OH is extremely important to develop effective preventive programmes for young adults. In Russia, there is little information on OH and factors associated with OH in young adults. Thus, we conducted a study in a group of young medical and dental undergraduate students in North-West Russia. Objective: The study aimed to: i) investigate dental caries experience and determinants (socio-demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, and OH behaviour); ii) assess the prevalence of dental anxiety (DA) and to explore the association between DA and sociodemographic factors, socioeconomic factors, OH behaviour, general health, and OH; and iii) investigate how socio-demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, OH behaviour, selfreported OH characteristics, and clinically-assessed OH are related to OH-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 474 medical and 333 dental undergraduate students of Russian nationality aged 18-25 years from the Northern State Medical University (NSMU), Arkhangelsk, North-West Russia. Information on socio-demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, OH behaviour, general health, and OH was obtained from a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) was applied to measure DA. OHRQoL was measured by the short version of the OH Impact Profile with 14 items. A clinical dental examination was performed to assess dental caries experience, Simplified Oral Hygiene Index, and Gingival Index. Dental caries experience was based on the decayed (D) missing (M) filled (F) teeth (T) index (DMFT index). Results: The prevalence of dental caries (DMFT >0) was 96.0%, overall mean DMFT index was 7.58 (DT 0.61, MT 0.12, and FT 6.84). Older age, being a female, high subjective socioeconomic status, and skipping tooth-brushing were associated with a higher DMFT index. DMFT index also increased among students who reported regular dental visits, and these students also had lower odds of being in the dental caries-free group. High DA (DAS score ≥ 13) was found in 13.7% and 2.2% of medical and dental students, respectively. Female sex, lower mother’s education, and poor self-assessed OH were associated with DA in medical students. Corresponding factors in dental students were female sex, irregular dental visits, infrequent tooth-brushing, pain in mouth, and number of missing teeth due to dental caries. More than half of the students (53.6%) reported low OHRQoL during the last 12 months. Female sex, rural place of childhood residence, poor self-assessed dental aesthetic, dissatisfaction with mouth and teeth, and a higher DMFT index, were all significantly, independently associated with low OHRQoL. Conclusions: High prevalence of dental caries and high DMFT index, with a dominance of FT, were found among our Russian medical and dental undergraduate students. The level of DA was higher in medical than in dental students. The study also showed that OH affects students’ quality of life. Public health measures should focus on promoting dental literacy, increasing knowledge on the prevention of dental diseases, and motivating good OH habits to improve OH and OHRQoL in young adults in North-West Russia

Daily variations in ambulance calls for selected causes in Arkhangelsk, Russia: potential role of excessive alcohol consumption on weekends

Objectives. To assess daily variations in ambulance calls for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), mental and behavioral disorders, and external causes in Arkhangelsk, Northwest Russia, in 2000–2008. Study design. A population-based study. Methods. Data about all ambulance calls during the years 2000–2008 were obtained from the Arkhangelsk ambulance station. Information about patient's gender, age, doctor's diagnosis according to International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, and the date of call were recorded. Pearson's Chi-squared tests were used for comparing proportions of ambulance calls across the week for CVDs (I00-99), mental and behavioral disorders (F00-F99), and external causes (S00-T98, V01-Y98). The ratio of incidence of ambulance calls on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday versus the rest of week was also calculated. Results. There is a significant daily variation (p < 0.001) in calls for CVDs in men and women aged 18–59 and women aged 60 years and older, with increased numbers of calls on weekends and Mondays varying between 2 and 3% excess calls. For mental and behavioral disorders, a similar pattern was found in the age group of 18–59 year-olds. Ratios for the number of calls during weekends and Mondays vs. the rest of the week were 1.05 (95% CI: 1.02–1.08) among women and 1.02 (95% CI: 1.00–1.05) among men. For external causes, a significant variation and an increase in ambulance calls during Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 4 to 17% excess calls was observed for both age and gender groups. Conclusions. The observed daily variations in ambulance calls with an increased number of calls on weekends and Mondays for CVDs, mental and behavioral disorders, and external causes may be associated with excessive alcohol consumption on the weekends. Further research using data on individual levels of alcohol consumption are warranted

Prevalence of and factors associated with dental service utilization among early elderly in Lithuania

Background There is no recent information about dental service utilization (DSU) among elderly in Lithuania. We examined DSU and its associated factors in Lithuanian early elderly based on the Andersen’s behavioural model. Methods The cross-sectional study conducted in 2017–2019 included a nationally representative stratified sample of 370 Lithuanian early elderly aged 65–74 years (response rate of 54.5%). Information on predisposing factors (age, sex, nationality and education), enabling factor (residence), need-based factors (status of teeth, oral pain or discomfort, and dry mouth), general health, personal health practices and perceived stress was obtained from a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Clinically-assessed need-based factors included number of missing teeth and dental treatment need. Multivariable Poisson regression with robust variance estimates was used. Results A total of 239 study participants (64.6%) reported a dental visit during the last year and 338 (91.4%) needed dental treatments. A higher level of education (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.04–1.40), pain or discomfort in teeth/mouth (aPR = 1.35, 95%CI: 1.13–1.62) and lower number of missing teeth (aPR = 0.99, 95%CI: 0.98–1.00) were associated with DSU. Conclusions Even though majority of early elderly needed dental treatments, only two-thirds visited a dentist during the last year. Predisposing and need-based factors were significant predictors of having a dental visit in the last year. A national oral health program for Lithuanian elderly with the focus on regular preventive dental check-ups is needed. More studies, both quantitative and qualitative, are warranted to investigate in depth the barriers for DSU among elderly in Lithuania.Dentistry, Faculty ofNon UBCReviewedFacultyOthe

Is Dental Anxiety Associated with Oral Health-Related Quality of Life? Assessment of Statistical Significance and Clinical Meaningfulness in a Sample of Russian Medical and Dental Students

Information about oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and dental anxiety (DA) in Russian young adults is scarce. We investigated how DA is associated with OHRQoL in a group of medical and dental students in North-West Russia. The study had a cross-sectional design and included 807 students aged 18–25 years who attended the Northern State Medical University in Arkhangelsk. OHRQoL and DA were measured by the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS), respectively. A questionnaire collected information on socio-demographics and self-reported oral health (OH) characteristics. A dental examination was executed to assess dental caries and oral hygiene. We observed differences in the OHIP-14 scores between dentally anxious and non-anxious students: unadjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–2.12; after adjustment for socio-demographics and clinically assessed OH: IRR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.23–2.02; after adjustment for socio-demographics, clinically assessed OH, and self-reported OH characteristics: IRR = 1.27, 95% CI: 0.99–1.63. The differences between estimated marginal means for the DAS categories in the models were 2.92, 2.51, and 1.24, respectively. Minimal clinically important differences of OHIP-14 fell between 1.68 and 2.51. We found a negative statistical association between DA and OHRQoL in our study sample, but after adjustment for potential confounders, the association lost its clinical importance