A person's right to access his or her protected health information is a core feature of the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. If the information is stored electronically, covered entities must be able to provide patients with some type of machine-readable, electronic copy of their data. The aim of this study was to understand how academic dental institutions execute the Privacy Rule's right of access in the context of electronic health records (EHRs). A validated electronic survey was distributed to the clinical deans of 62 U.S. dental schools during a two-month period in 2014. The response rate to the survey was 53.2% (N=33). However, three surveys were partially completed, and of the 30 completed surveys, the 24 respondents who reported using axiUm as the EHR at their dental school clinic were the ones on which the results were based (38.7% of total schools at the time). Of the responses analyzed, 86% agreed that clinical modules should be considered part of a patient's dental record, and all agreed that student teaching-related modules should not. Great variability existed among these clinical deans as to whether administrative and financial modules should be considered part of a patient record. When patients request their records, close to 50% of responding schools provide the information exclusively on paper. This study found variation among dental schools in their implementation of the Privacy Rule right of access, and although all the respondents had adopted EHRs, a large number return records in paper format.

Aims: To determine the ultrasound malignancy score (UMS) and identify the ultrasound (US) features of thyroid nodule (TN) associated with malignancy, in our study population, using fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as the gold standard. Study Design: A prospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Departments of Radiology and Morbid Anatomy and Forensic Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile Ife, Nigeria, between June 2016 and May 2017. Methodology: We studied 110 thyroid nodules in 110 adult subjects (97males and 13males). Neck ultrasound scan (USS) to evaluate and score 7 sonographic features of the nodules for their malignant potential as well as simultaneous Ultrasound Guided Fine Needle Aspiration (USG-FNAC) was done. The findings were compared and data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. Results: USG-FNAC findings showed that of the 110 thyroid nodules studied, 107(97.3%) were benign while 3(2.7%) were malignant. Receiver operating characteristic curve showed that at sensitivity and specificity of 66.7% and 88.8% respectively giving UMS of 4.5. All the 3 nodules that were malignant on USG-FNAC had micro calcification and irregular margins on ultrasound (p=0.05). Conclusion: Using USG-FNAC as the gold standard, thyroid nodules with UMS of 4.5 are likely to be malignant. Ill-defined margins and micro calcifications on ultrasound are suggestive of malignancy in thyroid nodules.

In many communities of South Africa, traditional healers are often the only means of health care delivery available. The level of knowledge and ability to recognize oral lesions of 32 traditional healers and 17 care-givers were assessed after a two-day workshop. The data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire, complimented by enlarged clinical photographs of the common oral manifestations of HIV/AIDS. Prior to the workshop, 46 (93.9%) of the 49 respondents had never had any formal information on oral health and 43 (87.8%) were unfamiliar with the symptoms of oral diseases. Thirty-five (71.4%) recognized bleeding gums from A4-size photographs and 11 (22.4%) recognized oral thrush. The recognition of other oral manifestations of HIV/AIDS were; oral hairy leukoplakia (41.0%), angular cheilitis (43.6%), herpes virus infection (56.4%), oral ulcerations (56.8%), and in children, parotid enlargement (27.3%), and moluscum contagiosum (56.8%). Traditional healers and caregivers constitute an untapped resource with enormous potential. A positive bridge should be built to link traditional healing with modem medicine in the struggle against HIV/AIDS.

In many communities of South Africa, traditional healers are often the only means of health care delivery available. The level of knowledge and ability to recognize oral lesions of 32 traditional healers and 17 care-givers were assessed after a two-day workshop. The data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire, complimented by enlarged clinical photographs of the common oral manifestations of HIV/AIDS. Prior to the workshop, 46 (93.9%) of the 49 respondents had never had any formal information on oral health and 43 (87.8%) were unfamiliar with the symptoms of oral diseases. Thirty-five (71.4%) recognized bleeding gums from A4-size photographs and 11 (22.4%) recognized oral thrush. The recognition of other oral manifestations of HIV/AIDS were; oral hairy leukoplakia (41.0%), angular cheilitis (43.6%), herpes virus infection (56.4%), oral ulcerations (56.8%), and in children, parotid enlargement (27.3%), and moluscum contagiosum (56.8%). Traditional healers and caregivers constitute an untapped resource with enormous potential. A positive bridge should be built to link traditional healing with modem medicine in the struggle against HIV/AIDS.

This study determined the knowledge, attitude and practice of oral health care workers in public clinics in South Africa towards HIV/AIDS and investigated the implementation of infection control measures. A total of 727 questionnaires were distributed to dentists, dental therapists, oral hygienists and chairside assistants in the public dental clinics of 9 provinces, of which 276 were returned from 8 provinces, giving a response rate of 38%. The questionnaire covered demographic factors and assessed issues such as knowledge, infection control practices, continuing education, legal, ethical and psychosocial issues and available support for HIV/AIDS. The common oral manifestations seen by respondents were candidiasis, acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG), hairy leukoplakia and Kaposi's sarcoma. Of the 174 who had a previous HIV test, 48% were for insurance purposes and 21% for post-needle-stick injury. Over 10% of the respondents indicated that gloves were not available at all, that there was an inadequate supply of water, and that there was no autoclave in their clinic. Nearly 50% of the clinicians had not had hepatitis B vaccination in the last 3 years. Fifteen respondents (5.4%) were not willing to treat HIV-positive patients. Only 48% had access to a written post-exposure management protocol and post-exposure medication was available to only 36.6%. The vast majority of the respondents clearly expressed a need for additional education on HIV/AIDS. The study demonstrated a need to add knowledge, enhance personal skills and improve the application of universal precautions

A structured, 40-item, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 290 nurses attending an international health care conference held in Pretoria, South Africa. The questionnaire focused on; personal and demographic details of the respondents, history of dental disease and dental attendance, exposure to oral health during and after basic nurse training, opinions on oral health and the nursing curriculum, perceptions on the relationship between nurses and oral health personnel, perceived ability to promote oral health and self-reported contributions to oral health. The 153 respondents were predominantly female (140, 93.3%) with a mean age (+/- Standard deviation) of 43.0 +/- 7.5 years. One hundred and twenty one (79.1%) had previously visited a dental clinic for personal care and 105 (68.6%) had suffered from dental disease, dental pain, bleeding gums or bad breadth. Only 71 (46.4%) were exposed to experiences in assessing and caring for clients with oral disease during their training. Significant positive correlation were found between exposure (during training) to experiences in assessing and caring for clients with oral diseases and some factors. One hundred and forty-eight (96.7%) agreed oral health should be integrated into the nursing curriculum. Forty-one (26.8%) indicated they have not been contributing to the oral health of their clients or community while 92 (60.1%) described their personal contributions as fair. One hundred and thirty six respondents (88.9%) wished to be able to do more for their clients in the area of oral health.