Volunteer-Based Social Support Structures and Program Exposure Outcomes in an Adolescent Young Adult Palliative Care Peer Support Program.

To conduct a social network analysis (SNA) of patient-volunteer networks and assess the impact of patient characteristics on network measures. Volunteers play a critical role in providing peer support to adolescent and young adult (AYA) palliative care patients. Streetlight at UF Health is a peer support palliative care program for hospitalized AYAs that aims at forming positive peer relationships through volunteer visits, events, and a virtual online health community.

Evaluating True Barriers to Dental Care for Patients with Periodontal Disease.

Background: The cost of care is often reported as a primary reason why patients fail to seek dental treatment; however, this may not the only component.

Aims/objectives: To examine an underserved population's perspective on the importance of dental care and barriers they face to seek treatment. The effectiveness of compliance incentives, such as gift cards, was also examined.

Oral cancer knowledge and screening behavior among smokers and non-smokers in rural communities.

Background: Research suggests having an oral and pharyngeal cancer (OPC) examination for early diagnosis can increase survival rate. However, the OPC screening rate is low in certain populations. To improve OPC screening rate, this study identified factors that are associated with having an OPC examination.

Determinants of dentists' readiness to assess HPV risk and recommend immunization: A transtheoretical model of change-based cross-sectional study of Ontario dentists.

Objectives: To evaluate dentists' readiness to assess the history of human papilloma virus (HPV) infections and recommend immunization among their patients.

Materials And Methods: A link to a self-administered questionnaire was emailed to Ontario dentists. Dentists' readiness and its determinants were assessed based on Transtheoretical Model's 'stages' and 'processes' of change, respectively.

Impact of the promotora model on the improvement of oral health knowledge of caregivers.

Objective: The objective of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the impact of the Promotora Model (PM) as an educational strategy to increase oral health knowledge in parents/caregivers of children aged 2-5 years at high risk for dental caries.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-three caregivers who provided informed consent were included in the study. A structured 37-item survey was administered prior to conducting the Promotora educational intervention (PEI) that covered oral health topics and behaviors.