This article reviews recent literature on the physical and psychosocial correlates of head and neck cancer, with a focus on quality-of-life issues, rehabilitation outcomes, and changes in the literature from the previous decade. These studies have shown that head and neck cancer has an enormous impact on the quality of life of patients. The most important physical symptoms are speech problems, dry mouth and throat, and swallowing problems. Pain is also frequently reported. Disturbances in psychosocial functioning and psychological distress are reported by a considerable number of patients; worry, anxiety, mood disorder, fatigue, and depression are the main symptoms. Cancer of the head and neck has a negative effect on social, recreational, and sexual functioning. Despite a growing number of longitudinal studies, little is known about the rehabilitation outcomes over a longer period of time. Future research is necessary to form a consensus about the further development and use of specific instruments to study patients with cancer of the head and neck, to conduct more prospective studies, and to develop programs that are aimed at maximizing rehabilitation outcomes and evaluate these programs with randomized designs.

In planning oral health promotion interventions, it should be considered that children's psychological predisposition and family environment might significantly influence their tooth-brushing behaviour.

Objective: This study sought to determine the influence of sense of coherence (SOC), a personal stress-coping resource, and smoking on the self-reported gingival health of a cohort of rural black South African adolescents.Methods: This 18-month study involved a three-wave survey of a representative sample of eighth graders from 11 randomly selected high schools in the Limpopo province, South Africa (n=970). Using a generalized estimating equation model, we examined the correlates of recent gingivitis, defined as self-reporting frequent gingival bleeding (GB). Explanatory variables included baseline socio-economic status, age, gender, plaque levels, toothbrushing frequency, tobacco use status and SOC levels.Results: Among our sample, 74.6% reported experiencing gingivitis at some point during follow-up, while 41.9% reported frequent GB at the last survey. Factors that were positively associated with recent gingivitis include living in poor households [odds ratio (OR)=1.49; p<0.01], having higher plaque levels (OR=1.18; p=0.04) and smoking regularly (OR=1.57; p=0.04). Self-reporting gingivitis was negatively associated with being female (OR=0.76; p=0.02) and having a higher SOC (OR=0.96; p<0.001).

Non-adherence to topical glaucoma medication is fairly common. Aids that minimize forgetfulness and delivery systems facilitating the delivery of medications to the eye could be considered to enhance patient adherence before advancing to other therapies with additional risks and costs.

This study investigated the association between household member's (HHM) smoking or secondhand smoke exposure and caries, using a cross-sectional sample of adolescents who had both dental examination and data on HHM smoking (n = 1,873). The results suggest that HHM smoking may be a risk indicator for caries in adolescents' permanent teeth.