Longitudinal evaluation of the impact of dental caries treatment on oral health‐related quality of life among schoolchildren

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dental caries treatment on oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) among schoolchildren and the responsiveness of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ_8‐10) instrument. Brazilian schoolchildren, 8–10 yr of age, were randomly selected and assigned to two groups – dental caries treatment (DCT) and caries‐free (CF) – according to their caries experience [decayed, missing, or filled primary teeth (dmft) and decayed, missing or filled secondary teeth (DMFT) values of ≥0]. The CPQ_8‐10 instrument was administered at baseline and at 4 wk of follow‐up (i.e. 4 wk after completion of dental treatment). In the DCT group, increases in CPQ_8‐10 scores were observed between the baseline and follow‐up results. However, longitudinal evaluation of the CF group demonstrated no statistically significant difference in CPQ_8‐10 scores. Responsiveness of the CPQ_8‐10 instrument (magnitude of change in CPQ_8‐10 scores) in the DCT group was greater (effect size >0.7) than in the CF group. The findings of this study show that dental caries treatment has an important impact on OHRQoL of children. The CPQ_8‐10 was considered an acceptable instrument for longitudinal measurement of changes in OHRQoL.     

Enabling the return-to-work process among people with affective disorders: A multiple-case study

Background: The Individual Enabling and Support (IES) model is an adapted, supported employment program developed to meet motivational, cognitive and time-use needs of people with affective disorders. Vocational programs for this target group have been developed but more knowledge is needed about the important characteristics and perceived usefulness of the programs. The aim of this study was to illustrate the IES model and process from multiple perspectives.

Methods: Five participants were included in this multiple-case study. The material comprised interviews with participants, intervention documents, memos and interviews with employment specialists. Within and cross-case analyzes and an analytical generalization were performed.

Results: The cases illustrated different IES processes, and the theme; Enabling engagement in return to work (RTW) was formulated. Continuous support from the employment specialist and a focus on personal resources and motivation were essential to overcome low self-confidence regarding RTW. Motivational, cognitive and time-use strategies gave an opportunity to learn new behavior and coping strategies for job seeking, getting employed and working.

Conclusion: Providing a combination of these strategies integrated with supported employment could promote self-efficacy and engagement in the RTW process among people on sick leave due to an affective disorder.     

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in a General Japanese Population: The Hisayama Study

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence and risk factors for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in a general Japanese population. Methods: This population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2007 with subjects from the Hisayama Study. Of the 3,648 residents in Hisayama, Japan, 2,663 who were ≥ 50 years old were enrolled in this study. The characteristics of PCV were determined by fundus examination or based on indocyanine green and fluorescein angiographic findings. We evaluated the contributions of the risk factors for PCV. Results: Among the 207 participants with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), 174 (6.5%) had early AMD, and 33 (1.2%) had late AMD, including 10 participants with PCV (0.4%). Male and smoking habit were significant risk factors for the development of PCV. Conclusions: The prevalence of PCV is higher among Japanese subjects than Caucasians in Western countries. Male gender and smoking habit were significant risk factors for PCV in a general Japanese population.     

Impact of ethnicity on mood disorders in Parkinson's disease

Anxiety and depression are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, yet their prevalence and severity compared to individuals without PD requires more research. Moreover, it has never been compared across different ethnic groups. The objective of this study was to close that gap in the literature by exploring the caseness and severity of anxiety and depression in PD patients of different ethnicities compared to controls without PD. It was found that caseness and severity of anxiety and depression are higher in individuals with PD compared to controls. Furthermore, the caseness and severity of anxiety and depression do not vary significantly among ethnic groups. Finally, depression caseness was not predicted by age, gender, disease duration, restless legs syndrome prevalence, Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) score nor Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale part III (UPDRS-III) score. Anxiety caseness was predicted by gender, with females 2.7 times more likely to have anxiety caseness than males. Overall, our study suggests that treatment plans should be individualized based on prevalence and severity of the two conditions in individuals with PD rather than generalize treatment for specific ethnic groups.