Background The COVID-19 government public health measures are necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, however, their efficacy is largely dependent on adherence. This study utilized the Health Belief Model (HBM) to explain the public’s adopted prevention practices during the COVID-19 outbreak in Saudi Arabia. Methods This study used “COVID-19 Snapshot MOnitoring (COSMO): monitoring knowledge, risk perceptions, preventive behaviours, and public trust in the current coronavirus outbreak” research protocol which is developed by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the COSMO group. The COSMO questionnaire was translated into Arabic and distributed as an online survey via WhatsApp instant messaging application from May 2nd to May 26th, 2020. The dependent variable was the mean of adopting ten COVID-19 preventive practices. These practices were hand washing, avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth, use of hand sanitizer, covering mouth and nose when coughing/sneezing, staying home when sick, avoiding close contact with infected persons, social distancing, wearing masks, home isolation, and lockdown. The independent variables included the HBM constructs (susceptibility to and severity of COVID-19, benefits of and barriers to adopting preventive behaviors, cues to action, health motivation, and self-efficacy), sociodemographic factors, presence of chronic illness, and perceived and actual knowledge. We conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses and reported significant findings (P ≤ 0.05). Results We analyzed 1027 surveys. About 38% adhered to all COVID-19 preventive behaviors and the mean for adherence was 9. The HBM perceived benefits ( p = 0.001), perceived barriers ( p = 0.004), and cues to action ( p = 0.046) were associated with adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors after adjusting for all other factors. Respondents with the highest levels of education and income were less likely to adopt COVID-19 preventive behaviors compared to those in the lower ranks of education and income. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the HBM can be applied to understand adherence to COVID-19 prevention practices. The recognition of perceived health beliefs and practices is important for developing effective COVID-19 health intervention strategies.
The recent coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to major lifestyle changes. The present study sought to assess factors associated with fear to seek dental care during COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study was conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. An online questionnaire was filled by a convenient sample of adult Saudi residents through mobile instant messaging application. The following measures were collected: sociodemographic characteristics, fear of COVID-19 using validated Fears of Illness and Virus Evaluation scale, fear to seek dental care, perceived health status, and COVID-19 experience. There were 826 participants involved in this study (541 females and 285 males, mean age: 38.8 ± 13.29 years). Fear to seek dental care was significantly higher among females, younger age groups, people who perceived poor general and oral health, and people who perceived high risk of contracting the virus in dental clinics. After controlling for confounders, fear to seek dental care was significantly higher among the age group of 35–44 years, those who perceived high and moderate risk of COVID-19 infection in dental clinics, and among participants who reported untreated dental conditions. Fear that Others Get Sick, Fear of the Impact on Social Life, and Behaviors Related to Illness and Virus Fears were significantly associated with high levels of fear to seek dental care. Within the study’s limitations, fear of COVID-19 negatively impacted the study population’s willingness to seek dental treatment. Factors such as age, perceived risk of COVID-19 infection in dental clinics, and untreated dental conditions were associated with fear to seek dental care.
BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to predict the annual growth rate of the mandible and total anterior facial height using IGF-1 levels together with cervical stage, skeletal classification, and gender.MethodsTwenty-five orthodontic patients (12 females and 13 males) had their cervical stages, blood-spot IGF-1 levels, and cephalometric parameters measured at 1-year intervals. The number of years each patient was followed up varied between 1 and 5 years resulting in 43 12-month intervals collected from 77 observations. Descriptive, bivariate, and regression analyses were used to analyze this data.ResultsThe linear regression model for predicting the annual mandibular growth rate was significant at p < 0.01 with an R-square value of 0.52. We found that the average IGF-1 level for the interval, the change in IGF-1 level, and the presence of a skeletal class III pattern were statistically significant predictors of mandibular growth. The regression model for predicting the annual change in anterior facial height was significant at p < 0.01 with an R-square value of 0.42. We found that the change in IGF-1 level was the only statistically significant predictor of this outcome.ConclusionsThe proposed method which combines IGF-1 levels with information that is readily available to clinicians can be used to predict the timing and intensity of the growth spurt. These factors together explain more of the observed individual variation in growth rate than any of the factors used in isolation.
Objective: To investigate intrinsic palatal and alveolar tissue deficiency in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) as compared to age-matched individuals without UCLP using surface area measurements on 3D scans of plaster casts. Methods: 22 maxillary casts of infants with UCLP from the Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery of NYU Langone Medical Center and 37 maxillary casts from infants without clefts from Sillman's longitudinal study were scanned by Ortho Insight 3D by Motion View Software, LLC (Chattanooga, TN) and measured using Checkpoint software (Stratovan, Davis, CA). The palatal and alveolar surface areas of each cast were measured. The most superior point of the alveolar ridge in front of the incisive papilla and the most superior point of each maxillary tuberosity were connected by a line that ran along the highest part of the alveolar ridge. This line was used to set boundaries for the palatal surface area measurements. The surface areas of greater and lesser segments were measured independently on UCLP casts. A total palatal surface area for the UCLP sample including width of the cleft gap was also measured. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in surface area (P > .001) when we compared the UCLP area of the cleft segments alone with the non-cleft sample. There was a positive correlation (determine the statistical significance) between the surface area of the cleft segments and cleft gap. In addition, there was a statistically significant difference between UCLP plus cleft area and the non-cleft samples in surface area (P < .0001). Conclusion: An intrinsic palatal and alveolar tissue deficiency exists in patients born with UCLP. The amount of tissue deficiency for a patient with UCLP should be considered when developing and executing a patient-specific treatment plan.
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