Premium
THE EFFICACY OF NONCONTINGENT ESCAPE FOR DECREASING CHILDREN'S DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR DURING RESTORATIVE DENTAL TREATMENT
Author(s) -
O'Callaghan Patrick M.,
Allen Keith D.,
Powell Shawn,
Salama Fouad
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1901/jaba.2006.79-05
Subject(s) - applied behavior analysis , intervention (counseling) , psychology , multiple baseline design , behavior change , reinforcement , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , psychiatry , autism , social psychology
We evaluated the effectiveness of a dentist‐implemented behavioral intervention in which brief escape from dental treatment was provided on a regular basis, independent of the child's behavior. Within a multiple baseline design across subjects, 5 children, ages 4 to 7 years, were provided with temporary escape from dental treatment on a fixed‐time schedule. The intervals were signaled by an electronic timer worn by the dentist. Clinically significant reductions were observed in physically disruptive behavior across all 5 children with the introduction of noncontingent escape, and verbally disruptive behavior was markedly reduced in 4 of the 5 children. In addition, the dental staff's use of physical restraint was reduced to near zero across all 5 children. The research extends the literature in both clinical dentistry and in applied behavior analysis by demonstrating that a dentist can easily and effectively implement noncontingent reinforcement to produce clinically significant and socially important changes in children's health behavior.