Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate smoking habits, the level of knowledge and attitudes towards smoking, as well as the role of dental professionals in prevention of smoking among ...students of the School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb and compare them to attitudes of practicing Croatian dentists. Materials and methods: The study was carried out among 1st and 6th year dental students at the School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb and dentists employed in primary practice throughout Croatia. A total of 159 subjects (51 1st and 53 6th year dental students and 55 dentists) participated in the study. Results: The prevalence of smoking was highest among 6th year dental students (39, 6%). It slightly decreased among dentists (34, 5%), while least smokers were found among first year dental students (7, 8%). The majority of dental student smokers expressed a desire to stop smoking (66, 7% of 1st year dental student smokers and 76% of 6th year dental student smokers), while less than half of dentist smokers had the desire to stop - only 45, 8% of them. Dental students of the 1st and 6th year of the study showed a statistically significantly higher level of desire for education about harmful smoking effects and patients counselling to quit smoking compared to dentists. The data gathered in this study indicate that it is necessary to increase awareness among dental professionals about harmful effects of smoking on oral and general health. Also, their awareness about the central role of healthcare workers as promoters of a healthy lifestyle among patients should be raised.
The aim of this study was to evaluate smoking habits, the level of knowledge and attitudes towards smoking, as well as the role of dental professionals in prevention of smoking among students of the ...School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb and compare them to attitudes of practicing Croatian dentists.
The study was carried out among 1
and 6
year dental students at the School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb and dentists employed in primary practice throughout Croatia. A total of 159 subjects (51 1
and 53 6
year dental students and 55 dentists) participated in the study.
The prevalence of smoking was highest among 6
year dental students (39, 6%). It slightly decreased among dentists (34, 5%), while least smokers were found among first year dental students (7, 8%). The majority of dental student smokers expressed a desire to stop smoking (66, 7% of 1
year dental student smokers and 76% of 6
year dental student smokers), while less than half of dentist smokers had the desire to stop - only 45, 8% of them. Dental students of the 1
and 6
year of the study showed a statistically significantly higher level of desire for education about harmful smoking effects and patients counselling to quit smoking compared to dentists. The data gathered in this study indicate that it is necessary to increase awareness among dental professionals about harmful effects of smoking on oral and general health. Also, their awareness about the central role of healthcare workers as promoters of a healthy lifestyle among patients should be raised.
Svrha: Željele su se procijeniti pušačke navike te razina znanja i stajališta u vezi s pušenjem i ulogom stomatologa u prevenciji pušenja među studentima Stomatološkog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu ...i hrvatskim stomatolozima. Materijali i metode: Istraživanje je provedeno među studentima prve i šeste godine te stomatolozima zaposlenima u ordinacijama primarne prakse diljem Hrvatske i na Stomatološkom fakultetu Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. Sudjelovalo je ukupno 159 ispitanika (51 student 1. godine, 53 studenta 6. godine i 55 stomatologa). Rezultati : Prevalencija pušenja bila je najveća među studentima šeste godine (39,6 %) te nešto manja kad je riječ o stomatolozima (34,5 %), a među studentima prve godine bilo je najmanje pušača (7,8 %). Veći udjel studenata koji puše želi s tom ovisnošću prestati (66,7 % studenata pušača 1. godine i 76 % studenata pušača 6. godine), a to želi i manje od polovine stomatologa (45,8 %). Studenti i prve i šeste godine, u odnosu prema stomatolozima, pokazali su statistički značajno veći stupanj želje za edukacijom o štetnim učincima pušenja i za savjetovanje pacijenata o prestanku pušenja. Sve navedeno upućuje na to da je nužno povećati svijest struke o opasnostima pušenja kad je riječ o općem i oralnome zdravlju, te među pacijentima isticati važnost zdravstvenih radnika kao promicatelja zdravih životnih navika.
Infective endocarditis (IE) remains major cause of morbidity and mortality in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). Limited data exists on ACHD with IE in Central and South-Eastern European (CESEE) ...countries. The aim of this study is to characterize contemporary management and assess outcomes of ACHD with IE in CESEE region.
Data on ACHD patients with IE from 9 tertiary centres in 9 different CESEE countries between 2015 and 2020 was included. Baseline demographics, clinical presentation, indication for surgery, outcomes, hospital and all-cause-1-year mortality were studied.
A total of 295 ACHD patients (mean age 40 ± 14 years) with IE were included. Median time from symptoms onset to establishing diagnosis was 25 (11–59) days. The majority of patients (203, 68.8%) received previous empiric oral antibiotic therapy. The highest incidence of IE was observed on native and left sided valves, 194(65.8%) and 204(69.2%), respectively. More than half had a vegetation size ≥10 mm (164, 55.6%); overall 138 (46.8%) had valve complications and 119 (40.3%) had heart failure. In-hospital mortality was 26 (8.8%).
There is clear delay in establishing IE diagnosis amongst ACHD patients in CESEE countries. Adequate diagnosis is hampered by common prescription of empiric antibiotics before establishing formal diagnosis. Hence, patients commonly present with associated complications requiring surgery. Hospital treatment and survival are, nevertheless, comparable to other Western European countries. Improved awareness and education of patients and medical profession regarding IE preventive measures, risks, signs, and symptoms are urgently needed. Empiric antibiotic prescription before blood cultures are taken must be omitted.
•Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a devastating disease with high morbidity and mortality.•In Central and South-Eastern European region there is wide use of empiric antibiotic therapy prior to establishing formal diagnosis of IE in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD).•There is a delayed in establishing IE diagnosis amongst ACHD patients. In hospital treatment and survival are, nevertheless, comparable to reports from Western Europe.•There is a clear need to improve education of patients and medical profession regarding preventive measures, risk factors, and signs of IE in ACHD.•Omission of empiric antibiotic prescription before blood cultures are taken should be emphasised.
The study was designed to test the clinical application of the grading of lid-parallel conjunctival folds (LIPCOF) as a diagnostic test for dry eye.
At 12 centres in 11 countries, 272 eyes of 272 dry ...eye patients (75 men, 197 women) were examined. Their mean age was 52.7±16.2 years. The LIPCOF were graded according to the method of Höh et al. The tear film break-up time (BUT) was measured, and fluorescein staining and the Schirmer 1 test were performed. The subjective symptoms were evaluated by 16 questions.
The LIPCOF score demonstrated significant positive correlations with age, dry eye disease severity and fluorescein staining (r>0.2, p<0.001), and negative correlations with BUT and results of the Schirmer 1 test (r<-0.2, p<0.001). The LIPCOF score exhibited a significant correlation with the overall subjective symptoms (r=0.250, p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of LIPCOF grading for discriminating between normal and dry eyes were best with the cut-off between LIPCOF degrees 1 and 2.
The displayed medium sensitivity and specificity, and good positive predictive value of the LIPCOF test support the use of LIPCOF grading as a simple, quick and non-invasive dry eye screening tool.
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