Provision of Public Dental Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of Dental Staff in Greater Western Sydney, Australia.

Background And Aim: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led to significant changes in health service delivery. Despite the risk in high-exposure environments, frontline workers such as dental staff were expected to continue delivering essential services. This study specifically sought to explore the experiences of dental staff in New South Wales and determine their perceptions of dental care delivery during a pandemic.

The development of a new oral health patient reported outcome measure: the New South Wales public dental services approach.

Background: Addressing Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) is essential for patient-centred care, shared decision making and improved health outcomes. Value-based health care systems in New South Wales (NSW) have a growing focus on collecting and using PROs that matter most to patients to improve their healthcare outcomes. Developing oral health patient reported outcomes measures (OH-PROM) is a first step towards value-based oral health care.

The perceptions of palliative care medical practitioners towards oral health: A descriptive qualitative study.

Background: Oral health problems are common, but often overlooked, among people receiving palliative care.

Aim: To better understand how oral health can be addressed in this population, this study aimed to explore the perceptions of oral health care among medical practitioners who provide palliative care to inform the development of a palliative oral health care program.

Design: A descriptive qualitative design was adopted.

Oral health-care needs among clients receiving alcohol and other drugs treatment-A scoping review.

Issues: Poor oral health is a significant problem among people who access alcohol and other drugs (AOD) health services, yet little is known about their oral health-care needs and whether any interventions and guidelines are implemented within AOD treatment services.

Approach: A scoping review was conducted to identify scientific literature in three focus areas: oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices of clients and clinicians at AOD-related services; oral health guidelines for AOD clinicians; and interventions that describe clinicians promoting oral health among clients.

Key Findings: Thirty-two reports were identified.

Risk factors for extended length of stay and non-home discharge in adults treated with multi-level fusion for lumbar degenerative pathology and deformity.

Purpose: To identify independent risk factors, including the Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) score, associated with extended length of stay (eLOS) and non-home discharge following elective multi-level instrumented spine fusion operations for diagnosis of adult spinal deformity (ASD) and lumbar degenerative pathology.

Methods: Adults who underwent multi-level ([Formula: see text] segments) instrumented spine fusions for ASD and lumbar degenerative pathology at a single institution (2016-2021) were reviewed. Presence of a pre-operative RAPT score was used as an inclusion criterion.

Long-term effectiveness of the midwifery initiated oral health-dental service program on maternal oral health knowledge, preventative dental behaviours and the oral health status of children in Australia.

Background: The Midwifery Initiated Oral Health-Dental Service was developed to train midwives to promote maternal oral health, and a large trial showed it substantially improved the oral health, knowledge and behaviours of pregnant women.

Aim: Evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the program (post-trial) on maternal oral health knowledge, dental behaviours, and early childhood caries in offspring.

Methods: A prospective cohort study involving 204 women and children 3-4 years (followed after trial) was conducted in Sydney, Australia from 2017 to 2019.

Aboriginal Health Workers Promoting Oral Health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women during Pregnancy: Development and Pilot Testing of the Grinnin' Up Mums & Bubs Program.

Background: this study aimed to develop and pilot test the model of care, Grinnin' Up Mums & Bubs, to train Aboriginal Health Workers to promote oral health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pregnant women.

Methods: Participatory Action Research was employed to develop the different components of the model (oral health promotion resources, training workshop, and a culturally safe referral pathway to dental services). The model was piloted (pre-post), using an embedded mixed-methods design, to determine the acceptability, satisfaction, and any recommendations made by seven Aboriginal Health Workers at an antenatal service in Western Sydney, Australia.

Economic evaluation of the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health-Dental Service programme in Australia.

Objectives: To critically evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health-Dental Service (MIOH-DS) designed to improve oral health of pregnant Australian women. Previous efficacy and process evaluations of MIOH-DS showed positive outcomes and improvements across various measures.

Design And Setting: The evaluation used a cost-utility model based on the initial study design of the MIOH-DS trial in Sydney, Australia from the perspective of public healthcare provider for a duration of 3 months to 4 years.

"Got to build that trust": the perspectives and experiences of Aboriginal health staff on maternal oral health.

Background: In Australia, models of care have been developed to train antenatal care providers to promote oral health among pregnant women. However, these models are underpinned by Western values of maternity care that do not consider the cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of Aboriginal health staff towards oral health care during pregnancy.

Oral health in residential aged care: Perceptions of nurses and management staff.

Aim: This study aimed to explore the perceptions of residential aged care nursing and management staff regarding oral care, to develop strategies to improve the oral health of aged care residents.

Design: A qualitative approach was used.

Methods: Two focus groups were conducted with nursing and management staff at two residential aged care facilities and transcripts were thematically analysed.

The effectiveness of guideline implementation strategies in the dental setting: a systematic review.

Background: Guideline implementation has been an ongoing challenge in the dental practice setting. Despite this, there are no reviews summarising the existing evidence regarding effective guideline implementation strategies in this setting. In order to address this, this systematic review examines the effectiveness of guideline implementation strategies in the dental practice setting.

The oral health of Indigenous pregnant women: A mixed-methods systematic review.

Background: Western models of care to improve the oral health of pregnant women have been successfully implemented in the healthcare setting across various developed countries. Even though Indigenous women experience poorer pregnancy and birth outcomes compared to other women, these models have not been developed with Indigenous communities to address the oral health needs of Indigenous pregnant women. This review aimed to understand the oral health knowledge, practices, attitudes and challenges of Indigenous pregnant women globally.

Early and Late Reoperation Rates With Various MIS Techniques for Adult Spinal Deformity Correction.

Study Design: A multicenter retrospective review of an adult spinal deformity database.

Objective: We aimed to characterize reoperation rates and etiologies of adult spinal deformity surgery with circumferential minimally invasive surgery (cMIS) and hybrid (HYB) techniques.

Methods: Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, and one of the following: coronal Cobb >20°, sagittal vertical axis >5 cm, pelvic tilt >20°, and pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis >10°.

The oral health status, behaviours and knowledge of patients with cardiovascular disease in Sydney Australia: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Periodontal disease is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and it is recommended internationally that patients with cardiovascular disease should engage in preventative oral health practices and attend regular dental care visits. This study aimed to explore the oral health status, behaviours and knowledge of patients with cardiovascular disease.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire containing 31 items was administered to patients with cardiovascular disease from cardiac rehabilitation and outpatient clinics in Sydney Australia in 2016-2017.

Process evaluation of the midwifery initiated oral health-dental service program: Perceptions of dental professionals.

Issue Addressed: All pregnant women should have a comprehensive oral health evaluation. Unfortunately, many pregnant women seldom seek dental care and some dentists are hesitant to treat during pregnancy. To address these issues, the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health Dental Service (MIOH-DS) program was developed in Australia.

Evaluation of relationship between common carotid artery intima-media thickness and coronary in-stent restenosis: A case-control study.

Aim: The study was intended to evaluate relationship of common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) with coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR) and to assess clinical profile of patients to determine the predictors of coronary ISR.

Methods: This was a single-center, case-control study performed between December 2012 and February 2015 in India. The study population consisted of PCI-treated patients with ISR ( = 32) and those without any post-PCI symptoms at least 6 months prior to the study period ( = 40).

The role of dental practitioners in addressing overweight and obesity among children: A scoping review of current interventions and strategies.

Introduction: With the growing prevalence of childhood obesity worldwide, there is a need for interventions to identify and address overweight and obesity in childhood. Although guidelines recommend general practitioners routinely screen for overweight and obesity among children, research suggests this is often not done. To address this, dental practitioners may be able to play a role in identifying and addressing overweight and obesity among children.

Process evaluation of the midwifery initiated oral health-dental service program: Perceptions of midwives in Greater Western Sydney, Australia.

Background: Despite links between poor maternal oral health, adverse pregnancy outcomes and early childhood decay there is limited emphasis on maternal oral health in Australia. To address this, the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health Dental Service (MIOH-DS) program was developed in collaboration with the Australian College of Midwives.

Aims: To undertake a process evaluation and explore perceptions of midwives involved in the MIOH-DS program to determine its practicability, acceptability and feasibility if it were to be up-scaled and implemented into clinical practice.

Promoting oral health care among people living in residential aged care facilities: Perceptions of care staff.

Objective: This study aimed to look at the practices and perspectives of residential aged care facility (RACF) care staff regarding the provision of oral health care in RACFs.

Background: Emphasis has been placed on the provision of adequate oral health care in RACFs through the Better Oral Health in Residential Aged Care programme. Endorsed by the Australian government, this programme provided oral health education and training for aged care staff.

The role of indigenous health workers in promoting oral health during pregnancy: a scoping review.

Background: Early childhood caries is the most common chronic childhood disease worldwide. Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are twice more likely to develop dental decay, and contributing factors include poor maternal oral health and underutilisation of dental services. Globally, Indigenous health workers are in a unique position to deliver culturally competent oral healthcare because they have a contextual understanding of the needs of the community.

Improving access to medicines via the Health Impact Fund in India: a stakeholder analysis.

Background: In India, 50-65% of the population face difficulties in accessing medicines. The Health Impact Fund (HIF) is a novel proposal whereby pharmaceutical companies would be paid based on the measured global health impact of their drugs. We conducted a key stakeholder analysis to explore access to medicines in India, acceptability of the HIF and potential barriers and facilitators at policy level.

Oral health and cardiovascular care: Perceptions of people with cardiovascular disease.

Main Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the perception of patients with cardiovascular disease towards oral health and the potential for cardiac care clinicians to promote oral health.

Method: A needs assessment was undertaken with twelve patients with cardiovascular disease attending cardiac rehabilitation between 2015 and 2016, in three metropolitan hospitals in Sydney, Australia. These patients participated in face-to-face semi-structured interviews.

Analysis of 12 Months Clinical Outcomes Associated with Implantation of Ultrathin (60 μm) Bare Metal Stent in an Unselected Real-world Population with Coronary Artery Disease.

Introduction: In the era of drug-eluting stents, Bare Metal Stent (BMS) has worked its way up to be recognized in several indications. Moreover, literature suggests that strut thickness has been directly related to the restenosis rate.

Aim: We intended to evaluate the clinical performance of the ultrathin (60 μm) Flexinnium stent (Sahajanand Medical Technologies Pvt.

Drugs for cardiovascular disease in India: perspectives of pharmaceutical executives and government officials on access and development-a qualitative analysis.

Background: India shoulders the greatest global burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Drugs are the bedrock of treatment and prevention of CVD. India's pharmaceutical industry is the third largest, by volume, globally, but access to CVD drugs in India is poor.

Cerebrovascular response in children following severe traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To describe the pathophysiologic response in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and autoregulation after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) ≤8 on admission, in children, defining a baseline for future studies.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of 95 patients following TBI, ages 0.1-18.