Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Bedi

Publications and source records attributed to R Bedi.

139 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The oral health of minority ethnic communities in the United Kingdom.

The oral health status of minority ethnic groups is a critical issue for practitioners in today's multicultural society. The National Dental Health survey, conducted by the OPCS, provides baseline information on the oral health and oral health related behaviour of the population in the United Kingdom but not specifically relating to the minority ethnic communities. To date, little is known concerning oral health status and self-reported oral health related behaviours among minority ethnic communities in this country. Following a review of the published literature, this paper will address two questions: how has ethnicity been used as a variable by dental researchers and, what is known of the oral health status of minority ethnic groups? Other background variables are considered which might explain the differences in oral health status between these communities and the indigenous population, and recommendations are made concerning further research in this area.

Black or African American↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Attitudes of dentists, working in Riyadh, toward people with a sensory impairment.

This study was conducted to determine the attitudes of dentists, working in Riyadh, toward people with a sensory impairment (SI), according to the Scale of Attitude Towards Disabled Persons (SADP). The SADP scale was modified to focus solely upon sensory impairment. The modified scale was pre-tested and then incorporated into a self-administered questionnaire. This was then administered to 600 dentists (response rate, 73.7%) working in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The modified scale showed itself to be reliable, with a Chronbach's coefficient alpha 0.616 and four-factor analysis, which accounted for 38.5% of the variance. Ninety-four percent of the dentists were generally positive toward SI in the society. There were, however, significant variations in attitudes, with a more positive score for dentists who had worked for 30 years or more (p < 0.005), were specialists (p < 0.005), received little or no undergraduate training in this subject (p < 0.05), and who received their undergraduate training in Europe/North America (p < 0.001). However, in a stepwise regression model, all these variables were significant except for the years of practice. The modified SADP showed dentists, working in Saudi Arabia, having a positive attitude toward people with SI.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Attitudes of the dental team to the provision of care for people with learning disabilities.

The aim of this study was to report on the evaluation of an attitude scale for General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) and Dental Auxiliaries/Professionals Complementary to Dentistry (PCDs), to determine the reliability of the scale with these two groups and to note any inter-group differences. Seventy-four GDPs and 89 PCDs completed the self-administered questionnaires. The main outcome measures were reliability statistics, attitude scores, and factor analysis statistics. Reliability was satisfactory for both groups. PCDs scored consistently higher than GDPs on this attitude scale. Six factors were found to underlie the responses of GDPs, accounting for 62% of the variance. Seven factors were found to underlie the responses of PCDs, accounting for 65% of the variance. PCDs expressed more positive views about provision of care for patients with learning disabilities than did GDPs. Factor analysis revealed that GDPs were concerned about effectiveness of treatment and the stress related with treating patients with disabilities. PCDs appeared to be more concerned with the human rights of people with learning disabilities and how they fit into society.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Transcultural oral health care and the Chinese--an invisible community.

The Chinese, a 'silent minority', are the most scattered, but neglected, community in the UK. Most dentists will have at least a few Chinese people in their community. This paper describes the health beliefs, dental knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of the Chinese. Implications for general dental practitioners are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Caries experience and oral health behavior in Chinese children with cleft lip and/or palate.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to investigate whether there were different caries levels in 3- to 6-year-old Chinese children who had a cleft lip compared to those with a cleft lip/palate. The goal also was to evaluate parental attitudes toward the feeding habits and oral health care for their children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out through a dental examination of a sample of children and a questionnaire to their parents. A sample of 104 3- to 6-year-old children (66 boys and 38 girls) with cleft lip, cleft palate or both were selected from those receiving pre-surgical treatment. Each child was examined and a short questionnaire was given to parents of the children. The form included questions about infant feeding practices, frequency consumption of specific drinks and, children's toothbrushing frequency. RESULTS: One hundred and four children were examined. Seventy-five percent had some caries experience and rampant caries was present in 26%. Children with cleft palate had a higher prevalence of rampant caries (30%) compared to those with cleft lip (12%). A multivariate analysis yielded feeding practices and mother's education as the variables significantly associated with caries and rampant caries. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that: 1. Children with a cleft lip/palate have higher levels of dental caries compared to those with a cleft lip alone; 2. The two most important factors for dental caries were: a. whether the child had been bottle-fed and; b. the educational attainment level of the mother.

Bottle Feeding↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oral cleanliness of dentally anxious schoolchildren and their need for periodontal treatment.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between self-reported dental anxiety and the oral cleanliness and periodontal treatment need in Scottish secondary schoolchildren. One thousand one hundred and three children participated in the study, mean age 14 years (sd 0.35 years), and the prevalence of high dental anxiety was 7.1 percent (95 percent CI = 5.6 percent, 8.6 percent). In examining the hypothesis that anxious children are more likely to have 'cleaner' mouths in an attempt to avoid future dental treatment, it was found that children with high dental anxiety or general fear had similar overall oral cleanliness (mean debris score and CPITN) to their contemporaries. However, dentally anxious children have less contact with the dental team; that is, they were more likely to defer or cancel dental appointments. Gender and social class were more significant variables in the presence and absence of disease with regard to CPITN than were either dental or general anxiety. It is concluded that no difference could be detected regarding the periodontal treatment needs between those children who have or have not a self reported high dental anxiety. In addition the periodontal needs of the majority of this age-group (64 percent) and those with high dental anxiety (74 percent) can be treated with simple non-invasive dental procedures, which can be carried outside the context of a dental surgery.

Adolescent↗