Prevalence and associated factors of dental anxiety among adults attending public outpatient dental clinic in the Eastern Province, Sri Lanka.

Background: Dental anxiety has become a major concern for both dental practitioners and patients and prevents a significant proportion of people from attending dental clinics. The present study aimed to determine dental anxiety and associated factors among adult patients attending a public outpatient dental clinic in a base hospital, in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 adults aged 18 to 75 years awaiting dental treatment.

Impact of oral care intervention on quality of life of patients with oral cancer undergoing radiotherapy in Sri Lanka: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Radiotherapy is used to treat oral cancer, yet it negatively affects patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The aim was to evaluate the impact of an oral healthcare intervention on HRQOL of patients with oral cancer who receive radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy.

Methods: An oral healthcare intervention was provided to 41 patients with oral cancer before radiotherapy (fluoride varnish application, scaling, permanent restorations, adjustment of sharp teeth, and extraction of teeth with questionable prognosis, oral hygiene instructions), during, and 3 months after radiotherapy (baking soda mouthwash, artificial saliva spray).

Professionally applied fluorides for preventing and arresting dental caries in low- and middle-income countries: Systematic review.

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to review the safety and effectiveness of professionally applied fluorides for preventing and arresting dental caries in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: Randomized controlled trials conducted in LMICs, in which professionally applied fluorides were compared with placebo/no treatment/health education only or usual care with a minimum one-year follow-up period, were included. Any topically applied fluoride agents such as sodium fluoride (NaF), acidulated phosphate fluoride, silver diamine fluoride (SDF), and nano silver fluoride (NSF) were included.

Effectiveness of health promotion intervention on the knowledge and selected practices related with oral cancer among a group of vulnerable youth in Sri Lanka.

Background: There has been a noticeable trend of younger people being diagnosed with oral cancer, particularly among those from low socio-economic backgrounds. Poor knowledge on risk factors toward oral cancer and the growing fashion of using tobacco also identified among younger generation. Present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a health promotion intervention to improve the knowledge and encourage positive practices associated with oral cancer among a group of vulnerable youth in Sri Lanka.

Oral health related quality of life of oral cancer patients treated with radiotherapy alone or with chemotherapy in a tertiary referral centre in Sri Lanka.

Background: Oral cancer is the number one cancer among males in Sri Lanka. Radiotherapy is a common treatment modality for oral cancer, but this can affect oral health related quality of life (OHRQOL). This study assessed the OHRQOL and its changes from baseline to the last week of radiotherapy and three months post radiotherapy among oral cancer patients who received this treatment alone or with chemotherapy.

Initiation of distress screening in oral cancer clinics in Sri Lanka.

Objective: This paper describes the initiation of distress screening in oral cancer clinics, among patients with oral cancer in Sri Lanka, addressing the service gap of lack of psychosocial oncology services. This involved validation of the Sinhala version of the Distress Thermometer (DT) and Problem List (PL) as an adjustment disorder (AD) screening tool.

Methods: The DT and PL were translated into the Sinhala language and cross-culturally adopted by the "modified Delphi" technique.

Tobacco chewing and associated factors among a vulnerable youth population in Sri Lanka.

Background: Tobacco in any form kills millions of people every year. Tobacco addiction among youth shows an increasing trend while smokeless type is becoming more common. This study aimed to describe the lifestyle of chewing smokeless tobacco among a group of high-risk youth population in Sri Lanka.

Translation and validation of Sinhala version of modified EORTC QLQ-OH15 in oral cancer patients who receive radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy in Sri Lanka.

Background: The recognition of patient-reported outcomes for oral cancer is important in improving patients' quality of life. The aim of this study was to translate and validate the modified Sinhala version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Oral Health Module (EORTC QLQ-OH15).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to validate the EORTC QLQ-OH15 that was modified after adding two questions to the original questionnaire.

Key factors associated with oral health-related quality of life in Sri Lankan adolescents: a cross sectional study.

Background: Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) measures have emerged as an important oral health outcome that is able to reveal the subjective burden of illness due to oral diseases. The association between sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors, clinical dental conditions and OHRQoL indicators has been investigated in adolescent populations across the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate key factors associated with oral health-related quality of life of Sri Lankan adolescents.

Oral impact on daily performance (OIDP) scale for use in Sri Lankan adolescents: a cross sectional modification and validation study.

Background: Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) measures play an important role in understanding subjective patient experiences in oral health care. The Oral Impact on Daily Performance (OIDP) scale is a validated OHRQoL tool that measures the impact and extent to which an individual's daily activities may be compromised by their oral health. It is commonly used to facilitate oral health service planning.

Metastatic breast cancer spread to peripancreatic lymph nodes causing biliary obstruction.

Metastases to the pancreas and peripancreatic lymph nodes (PPLN) are unusual. Metastatic involvement of the PPLN without biliary obstruction, from a primary breast cancer has been published in only a single case in literature. We report the first metastatic breast cancer patient with PPLN deposit, presenting with obstructive jaundice.

The prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in 1-2 yrs olds in a semi-urban area of Sri Lanka.

Background: ECC remains a problem in both developed and developing countries and ECC has been considered to be present in epidemic proportions in the developing countries. The aetiology and associated factors of ECC should be studied adequately to overcome this health hazard. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of ECC in 1 to 2 years old children in some selected MOH areas (semi-urban) in the district of Colombo, Sri Lanka.