Research abstract
British Dental Journal 201, 33 - 35 (2006)
Published online: 8 July 2006 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4813772
Subject Category: Behavioural sciences
Does completing a dental anxiety questionnaire increase anxiety? A randomised controlled trial with adults in general dental practice
G M Humphris1, H M M Clarke2 & R Freeman3
- The completion of a short dental anxiety questionnaire by adult patients immediately before seeing their general dental practitioner does not raise anxiety.
- Contrary to some expectations the answering of questions about dental anxiety does not have a deleterious effect on patients.
- Dentists are recommended to use dental anxiety questionnaires routinely as part of their general assessment of patients.
Abstract
The assessment of dental anxiety can be achieved by using brief multi-item scales.
Objective To test the null hypothesis that completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale had no immediate influence on patient state anxiety.
Outcome measure Speilberger State Anxiety Inventory-6 item Short Form.
Study design Randomised controlled trial.
Participants Patients (n = 1,028) attending 18 dental practices in Northern Ireland were invited to participate.
Results Twenty-four patients refused (response rate 98%) providing 1,004 patients (mean age = 41 years, range = 16 to 90 years; 65% female) for analysis. Patients who completed the dental anxiety scale were found to have a virtually identical state anxiety score: mean (SD) = 11.36 (4.33) compared to those who completed the state anxiety assessment only: mean (SD) = 11.01 (4.35). The mean (CI95%) difference was 0.35 (0.89 to -0.18), t = 1.29, df1002, p = 0.2.
Conclusion The completion of a brief dental anxiety questionnaire before seeing the dentist has a non significant effect on state anxiety.
- Professor, Bute Medical School, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TS
- Southern Health and Social Services Board, Armagh BT61 9DR
- Professor, Queen's University, Belfast, Dept of Paediatric, Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, School of Dentistry, RGH, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BP
Correspondence to: G M Humphris1 e-mail: gerry.humphris@st-andrews.ac.uk
