Anxiety of parents and children in dental care

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the prevalence and association of parents’ and children’s anxiety concerning socioeconomic variables and child’s behavior during dental care. Methods: This was a quantitative, observational, transversal and descriptive study. Data collection was performed through a questionnaire aiming at sociodemographic data and dental experience as well as Venham Picture Test, Corah Dental Anxiety Scales and Frankl Anxiety Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test), α = 0.05. Results: The sample consisted of 7 to 9 year- old children (57.9%.), of whom 72.6% were submitted to invasive procedures. The prevalence of anxiety among children was 43.2% (n = 41). Regarding parents / guardians, the prevalence of anxiety was 88.4% (n = 84). A significant association was found between the dental appointment experience and the child’s anxiety (p = 0.050) using the VPT. A significant association between anxiety and the type of dental procedure (p = 0.017) as well as the child’s experience (p = 0.000) using the Frankl scale. Conclusion: There was no association between anxiety and socioeconomic variables. In the variables related to dental experiences, a significant association was found between the experience of the dental appointment and the anxiety of the child using the VPT scale. An association between anxiety and the type of procedure was observed, as well as dental appointment experience, using Frankl scale.

摘要 研究目的：验证父母与儿童在牙科诊疗期间的焦虑患病率及其与社会经济变量、儿童牙科诊疗行为的关联。方法：本研究为定量、观察性横断面描述性研究。数据收集通过问卷完成，内容涵盖社会人口学资料与牙科诊疗经历，同时采用韦纳姆图片测试（Venham Picture Test）、科拉牙科焦虑量表（Corah Dental Anxiety Scales）以及弗兰克尔焦虑量表（Frankl Anxiety Scale）进行焦虑评估。数据分析采用描述性统计与推断性统计方法（卡方检验与费希尔精确检验），显著性水平α=0.05。结果：研究样本包含7至9岁儿童（占比57.9%），其中72.6%接受过侵入性牙科操作。儿童焦虑患病率为43.2%（n=41）；父母/监护人的焦虑患病率为88.4%（n=84）。通过韦纳姆图片测试分析发现，牙科就诊经历与儿童焦虑存在显著关联（p=0.050）。采用弗兰克尔焦虑量表分析则显示，焦虑与牙科操作类型（p=0.017）以及儿童诊疗经历（p=0.000）均存在显著关联。结论：未发现焦虑与社会经济变量存在关联。在牙科诊疗相关变量中，采用韦纳姆图片测试量表分析时，牙科就诊经历与儿童焦虑存在显著关联；采用弗兰克尔焦虑量表分析时，则观察到焦虑与操作类型、牙科就诊经历均存在关联。