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. 2021 Feb;22(1):29-40.
doi: 10.1007/s40368-020-00517-x. Epub 2020 Mar 13.

Children's dental anxiety (self and proxy reported) and its association with dental behaviour in a postgraduate dental hospital

S AlGharebi  1 , M Al-Halabi  1 , M Kowash  1 , A H Khamis  2 , I Hussein  3
Affiliations

Children's dental anxiety (self and proxy reported) and its association with dental behaviour in a postgraduate dental hospital

S AlGharebi et al. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2021 Feb.

Erratum in

Abstract

Purpose: Child dental anxiety (CDA) and uncooperative dental behaviour are common. We aimed to assess the prevalence of CDA (self- and proxy- reported) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) children related to their dental behaviour.

Methods: Data were collected from 312 questionnaires obtained from 156 parent/child (mean age 9.95 ± 2.17 years) pairs attending a postgraduate dental hospital. Demographics, self/proxy- reported CDA scores via a six-question, five-point Likert scale, of the Modified CDA Scale-faces version (MCDAS-f: where ≥ 19 was severe CDA) and Frankl Behaviour Rating Scale (FBRS) scores were compared and analysed. Chi-square test, Pearson's correlation, Kappa- coefficient, one-way ANOVA and independent t test statistical analysis were used (p < 0.05).

Results: The prevalence of self and proxy severe CDA was 22.4% (n = 35) and 33.3% (n = 52) respectively, with 9% (n = 14) being dentally- uncooperative. In both groups, extractions caused the highest CDA followed by injections and fillings (p < 0.001). The mean scores for self-reported/proxy-reported CDA were 15.02 (± 4.90)/15.70 (± 6.07) respectively. There was a positive linear correlation between self- and proxy- reported CDA scores and a negative linear correlation between self/proxy- reported CDA scores and the FBRS (p < 0.001). Self/proxy concordance of severe anxiety/none-to-moderate- anxiety was fair (68.6%, kappa = 0.23, p = 0.003). Both self/FBRS and proxy/FBRS concordance of severe anxiety/none-to-moderate- anxiety/behaviour was fair (78.8%, kappa = 0.23, p = 0.001) and (71.8%, kappa = 0.22, p < 0.001) respectively.

Conclusions: Considering the limitations of the present study in a UAE child population sample, the prevalence of CDA from extractions, injections and fillings was 22.4% (self- reported) and 33% (proxy reported). There was fair agreement between child- self and parent- proxy- reported CDA. Increased CDA led to uncooperative dental behaviour.

Keywords: Child; Dental anxiety; Dental behaviour; United Arab Emirates.

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