The evaluation of faces MCDAS in a sedation assessment clinic

Scientific Group for Review: Behavioural, Epidemiologic and Health Services Research

Title: The evaluation of faces MCDAS in a sedation assessment clinic

Authors: E.O'Leary, A. Busuttil Naudi, A. Cairns, C.Campbell

Objective: 1.To build a profile of patients attending a specialist sedation assessment clinic 2. To determine if the faces MCDAS is helpful in allocating children to the correct treatment for their anxiety level. Method: A retrospective sample was taken of patients attending the sedation assessment clinic from June 2008 to March 2009. A data collection sheet was used to record age, sex, depcat score, faces MCDAS scores, treatment need, number of prevention visits and method chosen to facilitate treatment. Results: Of the 57 patients that were seen in the clinic, 40 were included in the study: The mean age was 12 years and 24 were female (60%). The depcat ranged from 2 to 7 with a mean of 5. The mean number of restorations required by these patients was 4 and the mean number of extractions was 1.The mean faces MCDAS score was 28, ranging from 12 to 40, median was 28 (SD 7.5).  Fifty percent of patients did not get prevention appointments prior to their treatment. Of the 40 cases examined, the anti-anxiety modality altered in 2 cases (5%). The methods used to facilitate treatment are shown in the barchart below:

Conclusions:

-In this sedation assessment clinic adolescents generally presented with moderate to severe anxiety, which was reflected in the high MCDAS scores. Nearly half of these patients completed treatment with intravenous propofol sedation.

-For the majority of cases, the MCDAS was helpful in allocating children to the correct treatment for their anxiety level.

-This study incidentally highlighted the need for improvement of the referral pathway between the paediatric department and dental hygiene department.