Rashmi Mehra - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Rashmi Mehra

International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 2021

The present paper addresses basic evaluation and procedural concepts that are involved in the pro... more The present paper addresses basic evaluation and procedural concepts that are involved in the process of implementing a school-based program to promote oral hygiene practices among Indian school children using the I-change intervention mapping model. Core components for effective intervention design and implementation are presented as part of a comprehensive model composed of six stages along with in depth discussion about sustaining each step under the I-change model providing with the imminent need for such a school based program in India. This model systematically addresses the design program, the production of said program called insta-brush. Special attention has been given to the planned program implementation delineating suggested sequence of implementation followed by comprehensive measurement of the impact of the program with proposed process and summative evaluation plans. Assessment tools and evaluation strategies are recommended and illustrated based on evaluations of in...

Nicotine & Tobacco Research

BackgroundFramework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) 2030 Program (2017–2021) was launched to... more BackgroundFramework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) 2030 Program (2017–2021) was launched to accelerate World Health Organization (WHO) FCTC implementation in 15 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We evaluated the Program in six domains: Governance; Smoke-Free Policies; Taxation; Packaging and Health Warnings; Tobacco Advertising, Promotion, and Sponsorship (TAPS) bans; and International and Regional Cooperation.Aims and MethodsFollowing a mixed-methods design, we surveyed (June–September 2020) FCTC focal persons in 14 of the 15 countries, to understand the Program’s financial and technical inputs and progress made in each of the six domains. The data were coded in terms of inputs (financial = 1, technical = 1, or both = 2) and progress (none = 1, some = 2, partial = 3, or strong = 4) and a correlation was computed between the inputs and progress scores for each domain. We conducted semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in five countries. We triangulated betwe...

Tobacco Induced Diseases, 2018

Background: According to the World Refugee Survey by US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, mi... more Background: According to the World Refugee Survey by US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, migrants from Afghanistan constitute the 4th largest group of migrants to India. No previous study has been conducted to assess the tobacco consumption status and pattern among this marginalised migrant population. Aim: To get an insight of the tobacco usage pattern, accessibility and attitude towards tobacco cessation among the migrant population from Afghanistan. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of Afghan tobacco users residing in Delhi, India in the month of June 2017. A close-ended self-administered validated questionnaire in Persian language was distributed at local cafés and restaurants. Statistical analysis: Data was entered in MS Excel Spreadsheet and descriptive statistics using SPSS version 21 were carried out. Results: A total of 127 male Afghan tobacco users with mean age of 33.49± 11.97 years completed the questionnaire. Better work opportunities were the most common reason for migration. Most of them (69%) smoked tobacco and 15.5% used only Naswar. Half (52%) of the respondents continue to use tobacco products manufactured in Afghanistan with 62% procuring the product through social means (friends/family). On assessing barriers to tobacco use, majority (85%) found higher cost of tobacco products to be a deterrent while19% agreed lack of availability to be a barrier. 50% felt that law enforcement and tobacco use regulation in India curbed their tobacco use. Tobacco usage was a stress buster for 64% of the respondents. Although 72% were interested in quitting tobacco, 58% feared losing friends if they quit. Strikingly, 93% were unaware about the availability of cessation services. Conclusion: Even as Afghans migrate from their homeland, they carry their cultural and social practices with them, including tobacco products, patterns and practices.

Advances in Medical, Dental and Health Sciences, 2020

Cancer Research, Statistics, and Treatment, 2020

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2021

Survey (2009-2010), 57% of smokers purchased loose cigarettes. This situation has worsened since ... more Survey (2009-2010), 57% of smokers purchased loose cigarettes. This situation has worsened since then with two-thirds of cigarette smokers, one-sixth of bidi smokers and one-fourth of smokeless tobacco users found to purchase tobacco in an unpackaged form (GATS-2, 2016-2017). This is because singles make smoking habit accessible and affordable for smokers in India who might not be able to afford a complete pack of cigarettes (Lal et al., 2015). Multiple studies across the globe have suggested that poor education and income status have been consistently associated with the purchase behaviour of loose cigarettes highlighting the inducement to tobacco use by ease of

The International Journal of Prosthodontics, 2021

The purpose of this exploratory in vitro study was to compare and evaluate the load-bearing capac... more The purpose of this exploratory in vitro study was to compare and evaluate the load-bearing capacity (LBC) of ceramic-veneered zirconia and composite-veneered polyetheretherketone (PEEK) threeunit fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) with and without thermocycling (TC). Materials and Methods: The study included 40 samples of three-unit FDPs replacing mandibular first molars. The four groups included were: ceZIR (feldspathic ceramic-layered zirconia), ceZIR TC (feldspathic ceramic-layered thermocycled zirconia), cPEEK (composite-layered PEEK), and cPEEK TC (composite-layered thermocycled PEEK) (n = 10 per group). All frameworks were CAD/CAM milled. Ten PEEK and 10 zirconia samples were subjected to TC (6,000 cycles). All 40 FDP specimens were loaded by applying static load, using a universal testing machine. The maximum load required to fracture the specimens denoted the LBC. The comparison of LBC between the four groups was done by using two-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc analysis (α = .05). Results: There was no statistically significant difference between LBC of cPEEK and ceZIR (P > .001) without thermal aging. LBC values decreased considerably for thermally aged specimens. Statistically significant differences were observed between LBC of cPEEK TC and ceZIR TC (P < .001), cPEEK TC and cPEEK (P < .001), and ceZIR TC and ceZIR (P = .001). On fracture analysis, cPEEK showed delamination failures whereas ceZIR displayed catastrophic connector fractures. Conclusion: This comparative evaluation offers preliminary data highlighting substantial depreciation in the LBC of layered PEEK under simulated intraoral conditions, thus raising a question regarding the clinical longevity of layered PEEK multi-unit restorations. In contrast, feldspathic-layered zirconia can be suitable for use in posterior FDPs.

Indian Journal of Cancer, 2020

Background: India poses a novel tobacco problem with majority of the tobacco users consuming smok... more Background: India poses a novel tobacco problem with majority of the tobacco users consuming smokeless form of tobacco (21.4%). Gul is one such Smokeless Tobacco (ST) product that is manufactured commercially as a dentifrice to be applied to the teeth and then to gums many times during the day, making it a cheap and easy tobacco source. Hence, the aim of the present study was to estimate the usage of Gul and its social determinants among adults in the capital city of India, Delhi. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 1300 adults across 27 Delhi government dispensaries across 3 districts of Delhi through multistage stratified random sampling. A structured, close-ended, validated questionnaire inquiring about the tobacco practices was used for all the participants and a specially constructed, structured, close-ended, validated proforma was used for Gul users to assess practice and pattern of use. Results: The overall prevalence of Gul users was found to be 4.9% with a mean usage duration of 6.28 ± 6.75 years. The usage was found to be more among males (67.7%) and unskilled workers (45.2%). 74.9% started using Gul to treat dental pain with 93.47% of them reporting pain relief. Conclusion: Gul usage is an emerging menace in Delhi. Awareness programs and initiatives are the need of the hour to bring this tobacco product under the tobacco control policy radar and at the same time educate people about the actual contents and ill effects of Gul usage.

The Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society, 2020

Aim: Growth factors (GFs) are polypeptides, which are intricately involved in the regulation of b... more Aim: Growth factors (GFs) are polypeptides, which are intricately involved in the regulation of bone formation, preservation, and regeneration through gene expression. However, the role of these bioactive agents in osseointegration of dental implants has not been substantially proven. The objective of this systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis was to explore the effect of GFs on early osseointegration of dental implants in animal jaws. An attempt to decipher an adjunctive role of GFs in modulating predictable bone growth in peri-implant areas was done. Materials and Methods: An electronic and manual search of different databases was performed. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included and reviewed. The risk of bias (ROB) of the selected studies was assessed using the SR Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (Cochrane) tool. A meta-analysis was also performed to evaluate the different study characteristics quantitatively. Statistical Analysis used: The total Weighted mean difference was evaluated using the Rev-Manv5.3 algorithm. Chi-square test and I2 test were done to assess the heterogeneity between the studies. ] Results: Seven RCTs were included in the study. These were associated with a high ROB. The total weighted mean difference (WMD) of the percentage of bone–implant contact was 3.25% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.49%–6.03%; P = 0.001; I2= 91%) between groups with and without exogenous application of GFs. The total WMD of the percentage of newly formed bone area was 4.48% (95% CI = 2.31%–5.90%; P < 0.00001, I2= 84%). A high level of heterogeneity (P < 0.001 for Chi-square test; I2>50 %) among comparable studies was observed. Conclusion: The ancillary application of external GFs exhibited evidence of early osseointegration, resulting in more predictable and faster results. However, a careful discernment of conclusions drawn from this SR is a must before conducting any human trials.

Tobacco Prevention & Cessation, 2020

INTRODUCTION About 21.4% of India's population uses smokeless tobacco products (SLT), yet limited... more INTRODUCTION About 21.4% of India's population uses smokeless tobacco products (SLT), yet limited data are available on their microbial contamination. To understand the potential microbiological risks associated with SLT use, the present study aims to investigate bacterial contamination of tobacco and the types of microbes that could be cultured from SLT products. METHODS Twenty-two brands of SLT products, including paan masala, khaini, gutka and tobacco-containing dentifrices were examined and cultured by using appropriate selective and differential media including MacConkey agar and CLED agar. This was followed by a sequence of further identification by biochemical tests. RESULTS All 22 types of SLT products showed growth of aerobic bacteria. The most common bacteria isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa followed by Streptococcus faecalis. Other bacteria that were isolated from products, in traces, included Klebsiella spp., E. coli, and Bacillus subtilus. CONCLUSIONS This study raises and addresses the issue of bacterial contamination of packaged SLT products. SLT users might be subjected to a significant health hazard, especially those who are immunocompromised.