IADR Abstract Archives

Dental anxiety in preschool children: child self-report versus behavioral observation

Objective: Determine the relationship between measures of self-reported dental anxiety in children and a direct behavioral observation of clinical status in preschool childrens, from primary care centers in the city of Santiago, Chile.

Method: Descriptive-correlational study. Sample of 55 preschoolers (age range of 6 to 7 years). For the measurement of self-reported dental anxiety of the child, FIS scale was used (Face Image Scale), while assessing the child's behavior in the dental chair was used rating Frankl behavior scale. For data analysis, descriptive statistics were used, and used the Spearman correlation coefficient for the association of variables.

Result: We can see that 70.5% of the sample has no anxiety levels according  to the FIS scale, while only 3.3% of the sample showed high amounts of anxiety. In assessing child dental anxiety in the dental chair, 38,2% of the sample had a definitely positive behavior in the dental chair, while if you add the preceding category (positive), giving a total of 92.7% in the upper levels of the scale. About the relationship between the two scales is observed a statistically significant correlation (rho:- 0.297, P> 0.05). It means that higher scores Frankl (positive behavior in the chair), lower scores in FIS (low self-reported dental anxiety)

Conclusion: Dental anxiety is a rare occurrence in children 6 years attending dental care in community health centers, showing a significant relationship with the direct behavioral observation

Division: IADR/AADR/CADR General Session
Meeting: 2013 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session (Seattle, Washington)
Location: Seattle, Washington
Year: 2013
Final Presentation ID: 725
Abstract Category|Abstract Category(s): Behavioral, Epidemiologic, and Health Services Research
Authors
  • Rojas, Gonzalo  ( University of Chile, Santiago, N/A, Chile )
  • Herrera, Andrea  ( University of Chile, Santiago, N/A, Chile )
  • Rios, Matias  ( University of Chile, Santiago, N/A, Chile )
  • Barahona, Pilar  ( University of Chile, Santiago, N/A, Chile )
  • Molina, Yerko  ( University of Chile, Santiago, N/A, Chile )
  • Cadenasso, Patricia  ( Alfonso Leng Dental Care Center, Municipality of Providencia. Santiago. Chile, Santiago, N/A, Chile )
  • Zambrano, Veronica  ( Recreo Care Center, Municipality of San Miguel, Santiago, Chile, Santiago, N/A, Chile )
  • SESSION INFORMATION
    Poster Session
    Dental Anxiety and Fear
    03/21/2013