IADR Abstract Archives
Determining Factors Associated to Dental Anxiety And Fear among Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence of dental anxiety and fear among patients attending primary dental clinic and its associated factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving newly registered patients attending UiTM Primary Dental Clinic in year 2017. A validated Malay version of Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear Scale (IDAF-4C and IDAF-S modules) questionnaire was distributed by convenience sampling to 439 patients. A cut point of 2.5 in average score for IDAF-4C module was set to indicate the presence of dental anxiety and fear. The prevalence of dental anxiety and fear was determined by descriptive statistics. On the other hand, Pearson’s correlation was used to check the association of dental anxiety and fear towards related dental stimuli. The association towards patients’ factors (age, gender, education and income) was checked using multiple logistic regression.
Results: The prevalence of patients having dental anxiety and fear was 32.3%. All dental stimuli measured were found to have significant association towards dental anxiety and fear with r ranging from 0.628 (the cost of dental treatment) to 0.780 (not knowing what the dentist is going to do). Multiple logistic regression revealed that there were no significant association between dental anxiety and fear with all patients’ factors measured (p>0.005).
Conclusions: The prevalence of dental anxiety and fear among patients attending primary dental clinic was relatively high. This study has found that the prevalence has significant association to all related dental stimuli. However, it shows no relationship with other patients’ demographic factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving newly registered patients attending UiTM Primary Dental Clinic in year 2017. A validated Malay version of Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear Scale (IDAF-4C and IDAF-S modules) questionnaire was distributed by convenience sampling to 439 patients. A cut point of 2.5 in average score for IDAF-4C module was set to indicate the presence of dental anxiety and fear. The prevalence of dental anxiety and fear was determined by descriptive statistics. On the other hand, Pearson’s correlation was used to check the association of dental anxiety and fear towards related dental stimuli. The association towards patients’ factors (age, gender, education and income) was checked using multiple logistic regression.
Results: The prevalence of patients having dental anxiety and fear was 32.3%. All dental stimuli measured were found to have significant association towards dental anxiety and fear with r ranging from 0.628 (the cost of dental treatment) to 0.780 (not knowing what the dentist is going to do). Multiple logistic regression revealed that there were no significant association between dental anxiety and fear with all patients’ factors measured (p>0.005).
Conclusions: The prevalence of dental anxiety and fear among patients attending primary dental clinic was relatively high. This study has found that the prevalence has significant association to all related dental stimuli. However, it shows no relationship with other patients’ demographic factors.