Association between oral health status and family quality of life among schoolchildren – A cross-sectional study

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the association between oral health and family quality of life (QoL) among 6-12 years schoolchildren. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 schoolchildren of age group 6–12 years in Bengaluru, India. A 14-item pre-validated family impact scale (FIS) instrument was used to assess parental family QoL. The World Health Organization oral health pro forma (2013) was used to assess oral health status of children. Pearson’s correlation, Spearman’s correlation, and logistic regression analysis were performed. P <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Mean age of the study participants was 9.33 ± 1.85 years. Mean FIS score was 8.1 ± 5.5. The proportion of participants with caries experience, gingival bleeding, dental trauma, and dentinal erosion was 66%, 41%, 16%, and 17%, respectively. Children with caries experience were more likely to have family impact than those without caries (decay, missing, filled teeth) [P < 0.05]). Conclusion: There was an association between oral health status and family QoL among 6–12 years schoolchildren. Dental caries had an impact on family QoL among the schoolchildren in Bengaluru city.

Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches in Infantile Colic (IC): Results of a Survey Among Paediatricians in Turkey

Background and Objective: Due to limited knowledge on the etiopathogenesis of infantile colic (IC) and the insufficiency of data regarding current treatments, different approaches emerge in terms of diagnosis, and treatment modalities globally and also in Turkey. The objective of this study was to observe how infantile colic is diagnosed and treated by paediatricians in Turkey.Methods: An anonymous electronic questionnaire was used to collect the respondents' opinions. The study questionnaire was comprised of 4 different sections with 56 multiple-choice questions covering demographic features, diagnostic approach, treatment preferences and response to treatment.Results: A total of 375 paediatricians responded to the survey. Fifty three percent of the participants stated that they established the IC diagnosis based only on their clinical experience. Factors that most affected the decision to start treatment were identified as parent discomfort, decreased family quality of life, and crying duration (68, 66, and 54%, respectively). Application of soothing methods, probiotics, and simethicone were identified as the most frequently used treatment modalities (frequency ranking; 81, 76, and 50%, respectively). Of the participants, 98% stated that they used probiotic as supplements, on the other hand, 72% of the participants indicated that they used simethicone as the only medical treatment to treat IC. The question about the participants' observations regarding the response to probiotic treatment was answered by 71% of the participants with decreased crying duration, while easier stool/gas passage and resolved digestion problems were the other frequent observations (54 and 49%, respectively). The observations related to the response to simethicone treatment also included decreased crying duration in addition to decreased crying periods after feeding and easier gas/stool passage (67, 47, and 44%, respectively).Conclusions: Survey results revealed that the majority of the paediatricians used their clinical experience alone to establish the diagnosis of IC and preferred probiotic supplements and simethicone as the only medical treatment to treat IC and they observed clinical benefits from them. Insights generated by this study will be helpful to guide future efforts to improve the management of infantile colic by paediatricians.

When More IS Too Much: Compound Caregiving, Barriers to Services, and Service Support for Older Families of People With Disabilities

Using the theoretical lens of Family Quality of Life, this study evaluated perceptions of older compound caregivers (i.e., caring for more than one family member) regarding their need for services. Quantitative analysis of cross-sectional data collected from 112 caregivers (50 years and older) demonstrated that compound caregivers faced more barriers in accessing services for their families than noncompound caregivers. Although all caregivers shared similar perceptions on the importance, opportunities, initiative, and attainment of service support for their families, compound caregivers had lower stability and satisfaction than noncompound caregivers. Findings highlight the need to develop support programs to equip older caregivers in managing their daily challenges at the individual and family level.

Health of Aging Families: Comparing Compound and Noncompound Caregivers

Providing care to a family member with disabilities takes a toll on the caregiver and the whole family's health. Among aging caregivers, compound caregiving (i.e., caring for additional family members) has become an increasingly common scenario. However, few research studies have focused on compound caregivers. Extant literature describes individual-level outcomes, with sparse knowledge on family-level outcomes. The present study examines the differences in the individual and family health of aging compound and noncompound caregivers, using the family quality of life framework. Web-based cross-sectional data collected from 112 aging caregivers (i.e., over 50 years) was analyzed using chi-square and independent sample t-tests to examine differences between caregivers. Compound caregivers had worse perceptions of personal health (t = -2.96, p = .004, d = -.61) than noncompound caregivers. In terms of family health, although all caregivers shared similar perceptions on the importance, opportunities, initiative, and stability, compound caregivers had lower attainment (t = -2.64, p = .009, d = -.44) and satisfaction (t = -3.90, p &lt; .001, d = -.73) than noncompound caregivers. Findings have practice implications for identifying caregivers' multiple responsibilities. It is necessary to develop individual and family level programs focused on health promotion and caregiving training.

Exploring Patterns of Advocacy and Well-Being of Parents of Children With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Advocacy is often an expectation for parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). However, little is known about how advocacy may impact parent well-being, including stress, family dynamics, and marital relationships. By exploring the effects of advocacy on well-being, interventions can be implemented to support both the advocacy and well-being of parents of children with IDD. To this end, the purpose of the study was to explore the pattern between positive and negative advocacy experiences of parents of children with IDD and the well-being of parents, families, and marriages. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 38 parents of children with IDD. Regardless of the nature (i.e., positive, or negative) of the advocacy experience, participants reported that advocacy increased their stress. When the advocacy experience was positive, some participants reported improved family quality of life. Also, regardless of the nature of the advocacy experience, some participants reported feeling frustration within their marital relationships. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Portuguese population: Consumption of alcohol, stimulant drinks, illegal substances, and pharmaceuticals

Background The measures implemented by governments worldwide to control and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 have impacted the populations and directly influenced individuals’ quality of life and consumption habits. Objective This work investigates the Portuguese population’s changes in alcohol, stimulants drinks, illegal substances, and pharmaceutical consumptions habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods An online questionnaire comprising seven groups of questions–with one group referring to alcohol, stimulant drinks, illegal substances, and pharmaceuticals consumption habits–was made available to the general adult population of mainland Portugal from the 26th January through the 31st of March 2021. After applying the inclusion criteria, 1666 questionnaires were selected and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results Our results show that 48.9% of the participants have alcohol drinking habits and increased their alcohol consumption by 16% after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Furthermore, 8.7% of the respondents felt the need to increase their consumption of stimulant drinks, especially coffee, the most consumed stimulant drink (77.9%). We also observed that of the 3.1% of respondents who are usual consumers of illegal substances, 26.9% increased their consumption of these substances during the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerning pharmaceuticals, 23.2% of the respondents expressed their need to take a therapeutic drug after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The profile of common consumers of alcohol, stimulant drinks, illegal substances, and pharmaceuticals in the COVID-19 pandemic context is contrasting and varies according to gender, age, and employment status. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in the consumption of alcohol, stimulant drinks, illegal substances, and pharmaceuticals prescribed to treat anxiety, depression, and sleep changes in the Portuguese population. These new consumption patterns have probably aggravated domestic violence, mental diseases, and impairment of family quality of life in the Portuguese population.

Psychological Stress of Parents of Children With Atopic Dermatitis: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronically relapsing inflammatory skin condition that has profound impacts on patient and family quality of life.Objectives: To investigate the psychological stress of parents of children with AD in Korea using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).Methods: The cross-sectional study included parents of 8,575 participants under age 19 (970 with AD and 5,733 without AD) from the 2009–2012 KNHANES. Self-perception of stress, depressed mood, suicidal ideation, and diagnosis of depression by a physician were assessed for determination of psychological distress. Results: After adjusting for age, gender, education level, occupation, and marital status, logistic regression analyses indicated that mothers of children with AD showed higher frequency of stress perception (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.458 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.223-1.739], p < 0.0001) and suicide ideation (aOR 1.403 [95% CI 1.099-1.791], p = 0.0066) than those without AD. In contrast, fathers of children with AD did not show a significant difference compared to those of children without AD.Conclusions: Understanding the psychological stress of parents of children with AD is important for clinicians as evaluation, management, and support for parents, especially mothers, of children with AD are required.