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http://dx.doi.org/10.17135/jdhs.2015.15.3.369

Intervention for Reducing Dental Fear and Anxiety of Dental Patients  

Shin, Sun-Jung (Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Dentistry and Research Institute of Oral Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University)
Shin, Bo-Mi (Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Dentistry and Research Institute of Oral Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University)
Koh, Boo-Il (MKP Dental Clinic)
Bae, Soo-Myoung (Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Dentistry and Research Institute of Oral Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University)
Publication Information
Journal of dental hygiene science / v.15, no.3, 2015 , pp. 369-376 More about this Journal
Abstract
The purposes of this study were to assess dental fear and anxiety level of patients attending a dental clinic using the dental fear survey (DFS) scale, to apply interventions chosen by patients for reducing dental fear and anxiety and measure their effects. This study surveyed 34 patients who visited a dental clinic in Seoul about their self-rated health and their experience of dental fear, and measured the level of dental fear using DFS. Trained dental hygienists applied interventions desired by the patients for reducing dental fear and anxiety and, for each intervention, examined the patients' satisfaction (very helpful [5 point]~not helpful at all [1 point]). Collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 21.0 through independent t-test or one-way ANOVA for difference in level of fear according to related characteristics, and through Wilcoxon signed rank test for comparison between before and after the intervention. The subjects' mean level of fear (DFS score) was 44.53, which was an average level, and the level of dental fear was relatively high for stimulus-response (2.72). The level of dental fear was higher in those who had experienced pains or indirect dental fear from dental treatment in the past, and those whose subjectively perceived health state was poor (p<0.05). With regard to the applied dental fear intervention, 'Helpful (3.57)' was the most common answer. Overall satisfaction before and after the application of dental fear intervention was generally high as 4.37 and 4.35, respectively, but it decreased slightly after the intervention. In order to lower the level of dental fear, it is considered effective to survey not only the level of dental fear but also patients' need of dental fear interventions and to apply a suitable intervention. It is also required to educate dental workers and to develop related manuals.
Keywords
Dental anxiety; Dental fear; Dental fear survey; Intervention;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 4  (Citation Analysis)
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