Social Science and Dentistry

cover art

Cover Date:
December 2010
Print ISSN:
2040-4263
Vol:
1
Issue:
2

Anxiety reduction via brief intervention in dentally anxious patients: a randomised controlled trial

Aim: To compare the degree of anxiety reduction in dentally anxious patients attending a Dental Access Centre where the dentist did or did not receive the patients’ assessment of dental anxiety. Methods: Patients attending two Dental Access Centres in England completed the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). Those that scored high completed a state anxiety questionnaire (STAI-S) and were randomised into three groups (n=182) to test the hypothesis that patients sharing assessment information about their dental anxiety to members of the dental team has beneficial effects on their state anxiety. Group 1 were controls (n=60), Group 2 gave their MDAS to the receptionist who passed it onto the dentist unknown to the patient (n=62) and Group 3 handed their MDAS to the dentist (n=60). After their appointment they repeated the STAI-S. Results and conclusion: Patients in Group 3 were less anxious (by more than STAI-S 3 scale units) on leaving the surgery than those from the other groups especially if they entered into a discussion with the dentist about their concerns (by more than 5 scale units). Brief assessment of dental anxiety shared by the patient with the dentist collaboratively has the potential to reduce anxiety on completion of the appointment.

Key words: Dental anxiety, Modified Dental Anxiety Scale, state anxiety questionnaire, Dental Access Centres

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
108
Page End
117
Authors
P Hull, G Humphris

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial
  2. 56
  3. 56

  1. Dentist-patient communication: how do the models correspond?
  2. 57
  3. 67

  1. Journey to the dental office: a study of dental illness behaviour exhibited by people visiting government and private dental services in Delhi, India
  2. 69
  3. 76

  1. Caregiver’s social relations and children’s oral health in a low-income urban setting
  2. 77
  3. 87

  1. Exploring the concerns and needs of patients with terminal head and neck cancer and their caregivers
  2. 88
  3. 96

  1. Mothers’ understanding of dental-caries related feeding practices and children’s use of dental care in Ajman
  2. 97
  3. 107

  1. Anxiety reduction via brief intervention in dentally anxious patients: a randomised controlled trial
  2. 108
  3. 117

  1. Meeting at the University of Sheffield
  2. 118
  3. 118