Dentists' use of validated child dental anxiety measures in clinical practice: a mixed methods study

Alshammasi, Hussain; Buchanan, Heather; Ashley, Paul

Abstract

Background: Assessing anxiety is an important part of the assessment of a child presenting for dental treatment; however, the use of dental anxiety scales in practice is not well-documented.

Aims: To introduce child dental anxiety scales, and to monitor the extent to which dentists used them; to explore the experience and views of dentists regarding anxiety assessment.

Design: A mixed-methods design was employed.

Method: A protocol for child anxiety assessment was introduced to paediatric dentists in Eastman Dental Hospital. After 6 months, 100 patient files were audited to examine compliance with the protocol. Fourteen dentists were interviewed to explore their experience and views regarding anxiety assessment.

Results: Only five patients were assessed using the scales. Thematic analysis of the dentist interviews revealed three themes: ‘Clinical observations and experience: The gold standard’; ‘Scales as an estimate or adjunct’; and ‘Shortcomings and barriers to using scales’.

Conclusions: The dentists in our study did not use anxiety scales, instead they rely on their own experience/judgement. Therefore, scales should be recommended as an adjunct to judgement. Brief scales are recommended as clinicians lack time and expertise in administering anxiety questionnaires. Advantages of using scales and hands-on experience could be incorporated more in undergraduate training.

Citation

Alshammasi, H., Buchanan, H., & Ashley, P. (2018). Dentists' use of validated child dental anxiety measures in clinical practice: a mixed methods study. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 28(1), 62-70. https://doi.org/10.1111/ipd.12302

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 1, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Dec 18, 2017
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Feb 13, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 19, 2018
• Journal: International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry
• Print ISSN: 0960-7439
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-263X
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 62-70
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ipd.12302
• Keywords: Anxiety Scales; ACDAS Facial Image Scale; Child Anxiety
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/963132
• Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ipd.12302/abstract
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Dentists' use of validated child dental anxiety measures in clinical practice: a mixed methods study / Hussain Alshammasi, Heather Buchanan and Paul Ashley. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2018; 28: 62–70, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/ipd.12302. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.