Background: COVID-19 outbreak has surfaced as an imminent threat for the public health. Since India is a populous country, it is important for Indians to be aware of the basic modes of prevention that can diminish the spread of the COVID-19 infection. Aim: The present questionnaire study was carried out among the undergraduate students to assess the awareness regarding the spread and control of COVID-19. Methods: The questionnaire was circulated among the undergraduate students as a google form. Results: The study included responses of 868 undergraduate students belonging to two university colleges. Majority of the participants were females (63%, n=547) in the age range of 18-23 years. About 98.3% (853) had awareness regarding COVID-19. About 94.7% (822) were washing their hands after visiting public places, out of which only 90.6% (786) were aware of proper steps to be followed in hand washing. It was concluded that it is required to create awareness among 20.8% (181) of our study participants regarding the importance of hand washing to control COVID-19. Conclusion: Awareness regarding COVID-19 among study participants was good. However, a small part of the study population is required to be educated on proper steps to be followed in hand washing.

Although many countries of the World have passed laws making workplaces, public places, and restaurants smoke-free, still millions of children and adults continue to breathe second hand tobacco smoke (SHS) (CDC, 2007). According to the World Health Organization (2020), the health of almost half of the world's children is affected by exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). SHS exposure has been linked to a variety of serious diseases in adults as well as in children, such as coronary heart disease, lung cancer, breast cancer, respiratory symptoms and illnesses, otitis media and during pregnancy causes pre-term low birth weight deliveries (WHO, 2020).

No abstract

Background:There is no safe level of exposure to second hand tobacco smoke (SHS). The World Health Organization has stressed that 100% smoke-free environments are the only effective way to protect the population from the harmful effects of exposure to SHS. Design: A multiphase study with a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire phase 1 and a phase 2 cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT), conceptualized to determine the effectiveness of a school-based 'tobacco free' health education intervention on adolescents' knowledge and attitude towards SHS. Methods: Baseline assessment will include a questionnaire followed by estimation of salivary cotinine levels. The experimental arm will receive the 'tobacco free' intervention, which includes 40 min health education session delivered once a week for 3 consecutive weeks. Participants will also be given 'take home brochures' every week containing messages on the effects of tobacco and how to make their homes smoke-free. The sample of 250 participants, for the Phase 2 RCT, with salivary cotinine levels of > 0.1 ng/mL will be selected from the participants of the Phase 1 study. The effect of the intervention will be quantitatively assessed by estimating the salivary cotinine levels after the intervention. Participants in the control arm will receive conventional standard health education once. Conclusion: This research will help in assessing if there is any change in the salivary cotinine levels and the knowledge, attitude and behaviour scores after the health educational intervention and help in developing an effective school-based 'tobacco free' intervention program which could be incorporated into the school curriculum. This study has received the Public Health Research Initiative (PHRI) Research Grant of Rs. 18,99,205 and is registered with the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI) with number CTRI/2018/09/015706 (Registered on 13/09/2018). Ethical approval has been obtained from The Institutional Ethics Committee (No.17021 dated 13 march 2017).

Introduction: Periodontal infections have been documented to influence coronary heart diseases such as angina, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis and other systemic conditions like stroke, diabetes mellitus and preterm low birth weight babies. Over the last two decades, several studies have reported associations between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The association is now a part of the dental school curriculum and periodontology. However, in contrast, this important aspect is missing in the medical school curriculum and not many physicians are aware of the role periodontal disease plays in CVD. Aim: To assess the knowledge and practices of physicians of Mangalore City, South India, on periodontal disease as a risk factor in Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD). Methodology: A questionnaire survey was carried out to assess physicians’ knowledge and practices in the city of Mangalore, South India. The physicians were divided into four groups as follows: Group I - Physicians associated with medical colleges; Group II – Sole private practitioners; Group III - Physicians associated with medical colleges and having their private practice; Group IV - Post-graduate students. A Chi-square test was applied to test the difference between knowledge and practices among the groups. Results: Out of a total of 106 physicians, 56 (52.3%) participated in the survey. Periodontal disease was considered to be a risk factor in CVD by 87.5% (n=47) respondents and 96.4% (n=54) respondents stated that bleeding/enlargement of the gingivae was a sign of periodontal infection. Only 40% (n=23) of the respondents asked about oral problems during general check-up. Conclusions: The knowledge regarding the periodontal disease as a risk factor in CVD was high, however, the application of the knowledge in routine medical check-ups was observed to be less. J MEDICINE JAN 2021; 22 (1) : 7-11