Objectives: This study aimed to examine "intention to" and "performance of" oral hygiene care to stroke patients using the Theory of Planned Behavior. Materials and methods: A large scale survey of 13 centers in Malaysia was conducted involving 806 nurses in relation to oral hygiene care intentions and practices. In addition, information on personal and environmental factors was collected. Results: The response rate was 95.6% (778/806). The domains of the Theory of Planned Behavior were significantly associated with general intention to perform oral hygiene care: attitudes (beta = 0.21, p < 0.001), subjective norms (b = 0.38, p < 0.001), perceived behavior control (b = 0.04, p < 0.001); after controlling for personal and environmental factors. Approximately two-thirds (63.4%, 493) reported the performance of some form of oral hygiene care for patients. This behavior was associated with general intention scores (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.05-1.22, p < 0.01), controlling for other factors. Knowledge scores, training, access to oral hygiene guidelines and kits, as well as working ward type were identified as key factors associated with intention and practice of oral hygiene care. Conclusion: The Theory of Planned Behavior provides understanding of "intention to" and "performance of" oral hygiene care to stroke patients. Several provider and environmental factors were also associated with intentions and practices. This has implications for understanding and improving the implementation of oral hygiene care in stroke rehabilitation.

This scoping review aimed to gain an insight into the oral health status, behaviour, knowledge, and risk among cardiovascular patients, as well as to explore challenges and to make a recommendation concerning oral health and cardiovascular patients. It focused on four key areas, namely oral health status, behaviour, knowledge, and associated risk factors. Relevant studies were searched using a combination of keywords and related search terms. Four available databases were used; EBSCOhost, Scopus, Proquest, and Pubmed to identify the relevant studies. A total of 789 papers were screened and duplicated papers were removed, 28 papers were retrieved for full-text review. It was found that most cardiovascular patients have poor oral health, while their oral health behaviour and knowledge were at a fair level. There are a limited number of studies assessing oral health conditions during cardiac rehabilitation. In general, protocol and guidelines about the importance of oral health care for cardiovascular patients are still lacking. Having good oral health has potential impacts in reducing the risk of CVD. Future research is warranted with potential intervention approaches to improve oral health conditions among cardiovascular patients, thus reducing the risk of CVD.

This systematic review aimed to provide a synthesis of the evidence relating to how the provision of vitamin D supplements influences oral health status. An electronic database search was performed across six databases using a standardised search strategy. The PICO framework (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) was used to define the review question. The screening and selection followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses process (PRISMA). The quality of reporting was assessed using Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines, and the bias was assessed using the revised Cochrane tool RoB2. A total of 1812 studies were retrieved. 1427 studies were excluded due to unmet inclusion criteria. Full texts of seventy-five potential studies were retrieved and ultimately six studies met the inclusion criteria. There were limitations in the quality of reporting of studies (between 49 % and 73 %). 70 % of the risk of bias items were in the low risks category. Vitamin D interventions varied with respect to dosage and duration. Qualitative syntheses identified significantly better oral health outcomes. Heterogeneity of study design, intervention and outcomes precluded quantitative synthesis. Few clinical trials investigated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on oral health. There is considerable heterogeneity among studies interventions and oral health outcomes. Quality of reporting of studies has limitations and there is evidence of study biases. Nonetheless, qualitative synthesis of the evidence suggests that vitamin D supplements improve oral health outcomes, particularly periodontal health. Calcium may also play a significant role. Further high-quality trials are required of comparable vitamin D supplements with similar oral health outcomes focused to inform quantitative synthesis of the evidence.

The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program has run for over 40 years and the approaches to learning and teaching vary. However, recently it was decided that all BDS programs in Malaysia had to fulfil a set of minimum competency requirements based on three main domains; knowledge, skills and attitudes. The Faculty of Dentistry, USIM has taken an innovative approach to evaluate the perception of its new dental graduates on all of these domains. This study was conducted on the first cohort of graduating students from USIM. The objectives of this study were to evaluate self-rated competencies upon graduation and to determine the baseline competencies of these graduates. It is self-rated and based on the 8 domains listed by the Ministry of Higher Education. The objectives relating to the minimum competencies were sent to all 29 graduates before they had commenced to work in the field. Twenty five out of 29 responded to the questionnaire. The survey used a Likert scale (1=very poor, 2=poor, 3=average, 4=good, 5=very good and 9=cannot judge). It was found that the percentage of rankings for good to very good categories combined in each domain were; D1-96%, D2-79%, D3-76%, D4-82%, D5-85%, D6-50%, D7-68% and D8-32%. In conclusion, the domains of knowledge (D1), values, ethics, morality and professionalism (D4) and communication skills and interpersonal relationship (D5) showed higher percentages compared with the other domains. In contrast, the D8 domain which focuses on managerial and entrepreneurial skills showed the lowest percentage. This reflects the reduced emphasis on this domain in the USIM program. The findings provide valuable insights for reviewing and further improvement of the existing curriculum.