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Dentists' use of validated child dental anxiety measures in clinical practice: a mixed methods study
Author(s) -
Alshammasi Hussain,
Buchanan Heather,
Ashley Paul
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of paediatric dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.183
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1365-263X
pISSN - 0960-7439
DOI - 10.1111/ipd.12302
Subject(s) - anxiety , judgement , medicine , thematic analysis , audit , protocol (science) , paediatric dentistry , clinical judgement , clinical psychology , family medicine , qualitative research , psychiatry , dentistry , alternative medicine , social science , management , pathology , sociology , political science , law , economics
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.