Browsing by Author "Dennison E"

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    Knowledge of Osteoporosis and Lifestyle Behaviours Impacting Peak Bone Mass among Young Adults
    (LIDSEN Publishing Inc., 2021-01-11) Patel H; Denison H; Zafar S; Teesdale-Spittle P; Dennison E; Marks R
    Osteoporosis is a major public health problem through its association with fragility fracture. Low peak bone mass (PBM) is a major contributor to later osteoporosis risk. Despite this, most studies concentrate on older people when the window of opportunity to impact PBM has passed. This study aimed to understand what adolescents and young adults understand about PBM, the risk of osteoporotic fracture and how lifestyle factors impact PBM. Such information may inform educational interventions to reduce future risk of fracture, and provide important public health benefits. New Zealand university students were approached to participate in this study. Nine focus groups of a total of 44 adolescents and young adults, mean age 22.9 (± 4.02) years of different ethnicities (29 female 15 male), were conducted using a semi-structured approach with open-ended questions and prompts. Transcripts were thematically coded using an inductive content analysis approach. Participants reported poor knowledge of PBM and factors impacting risk of osteoporotic fracture. There was a general awareness of the positive and negative impacts of many lifestyle behaviours such as physical activity, diet, tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption on health in general, but not specifically how these impact PBM and good bone health in later life. We conclude that in a cohort of New Zealand University students, current knowledge of osteoporosis and lifestyle factors that impact PBM is limited. Educational interventions in young adults are now warranted to improve PBM and prevent osteoporosis in late adulthood.
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    Timings of permanent tooth emergence in children of rural Vanuatu, Melanesia
    (Pasifika Medical Association, 2021-12-30) Webb E; Stewart C; Woods L; Dunlop PF; Tangis J; Stephens J; Dennison E
    Introduction: Global patterning and timing of permanent tooth emergence is influenced by ethnicity, with no known timings reported for ethnic Melanesian children living in the tropical archipelago of Vanuatu. Aim: To determine timings of permanent tooth emergence and sequencing for children who reside in rural Vanuatu Methods: Children aged 4-17 years (n=1026), part of a larger oral health cross-sectional study, were examined recording all permanent teeth present, across four spatially separated islands. Binary logistic modelling established children’s median age of emergence of each permanent tooth for each study area. Findings: The median emergence of first permanent molars for girls is 4.9-years and 5.3 -years for boys. In all locations, children had all permanent teeth emerge by age 11 years (excluding 3rd molars). Clinically important differences exist for permanent tooth emergence by study area. Discussion: Permanent teeth emerge earlier for Ni-Vanuatu children compared to both Melanesian children of Papua New Guinea as well as other ethnicities across Oceanic countries. These results can be used as a set standard for Vanuatu. Early tooth emergence suggests oral health education programmes should target pregnant women with clinical preventive strategies commencing for their children before 5-years of age.
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    Understanding the Barriers and Enablers to Sporting Activity in Relation to Bone Health: A Qualitative Narrative Study among Adolescents and Young Adults in New Zealand
    (Longdom Publishing, 2020-07-29) Patel H; Denison H; Teesdale-Spittle P; Dennison E
    Background: Sports participation may be considered a method of reducing the risk of fragility fracture in later life by maximizing Peak Bone Mass (PBM) in the growing years. However, sports participation typically declines during late adolescence and adulthood. This qualitative study aims to identify barriers and facilitators to engaging with regular weight bearing sporting activity in adolescents and young adults in New Zealand. Methods: 44 adolescents and young adults aged 17 to 33 participated in nine focus groups. The study was conducted using a semi-structured approach with open-ended questions and prompts. Transcripts were thematically coded using an inductive content analysis approach. Results: The three main barriers to sports participation that emerged were a) structural (disorientation in a new living environment, facilities, access to healthcare), b) social (financial and time constraints) and c) personal (social pressures and lack of an understanding of why sporting activity matters for bone health) while enablers of sports participation included a) supportive environments, b) access to health checks including support to avoid injury and c) education to better understand benefits of recreational sporting activity. Conclusions: Current awareness of osteoporosis and lifestyle factors that impact PBM is limited. Educational interventions are now warranted and urgently required.
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    Variability of naturally occurring fluoride in diverse community drinking-water sources, Tanna Island, Vanuatu
    (IWA Publishing, 2021-07) Webb E; Stewart C; Sami E; Kelsey S; Fairbairn Dunlop P; Dennison E
    Large variations in fluoride concentrations exist in natural waters, many of which are the source of community drinking-water supplies. Determining fluoride concentrations in community drinking waters can be challenging in developing Pacific countries such as Vanuatu that have limited laboratory capacity. Knowledge of naturally elevated fluoride concentrations that cause irreversible, adverse health outcomes may allow communities the opportunity to treat and manage their drinking-water supplies. Community drinking-water samples (n = 69), sourced from groundwaters, roof catchment rainwaters, surface waters and springs, were sampled on Tanna Island, Vanuatu between 2017 and 2020. In an 18 km2 area of Western Tanna, a set of 30 groundwater-based drinking-water samples had a median fluoride concentration of 3.3 mg/L, with 20 samples >1.5 mg/L and seven samples >4.0 mg/L. These concentrations increase the risk of dental and skeletal fluorosis, respectively. Repeat resampling at five sites showed little variation over the sampling period. Rainwater-fed drinking-water supplies were lower overall and highly variable in fluoride concentrations (<0.05–4.0 mg/L, median of 0.53 mg/L), with variable inputs from volcanic emissions from Yasur volcano. We recommend a comprehensive oral health and bone health study for the whole island to determine adverse health effects of excess fluoride in this vulnerable population.
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    What are the barriers to adoption of a lifestyle associated with optimal peak bone mass acquisition? A qualitative study of young adults in New Zealand
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-02-08) Zafar S; Denison H; Patel H; Dennison E; Longo UG
    Objective: This study aimed to investigate the barriers to adopting lifestyle factors other than physical activity important for optimal peak bone mass (PBM) acquisition—namely, dietary factors, avoidance of cigarette smoking, and keeping alcohol consumption within recommended limits. Materials and Methods: University students and staff aged 18–35 years were recruited. Six semi-structured, in-depth focus group interviews were conducted with a total of 28 participants. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. A thematic approach for data analysis using a constant comparative method was performed using NVivo software. Results: Three major themes emerged: socio-cultural barriers (peer pressure and cultural norms); personal barriers (time, cost, and diet preferences); and other barriers (medical illness and lack of symptoms associated with low bone mass density). Conclusions: We identified several barriers to adoption of lifestyle behaviours that might be beneficial to PBM acquisition. These data might facilitate the development of public health interventions designed to help young adults embrace osteoprotective lifestyles, and hence reduce the burden of osteoporotic fracture in later life.