الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dentists’ appearance and decoration of the dental clinic on child anxiety using facial image scale (FIS) and Frankel scale for behaviors. Methods: The study was conducted on 280 children their age ranged between 3-6 years. They had been selected from Pediatric Dentistry Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University. The children were randomly divided into two main groups according to the sample design. In the first group, anxiety of 240 children were evaluated using Frankl scale and FIS in relation to different variables of dentists’ appearance (age ,sex ,attire, protective eye glasses and mask). In the second group, anxiety of other 40 children were evaluated in relation to different clinic decoration (general design or pediatric design) using Frankel scale and FIS while researcher had standard dentists’ appearance (white coat with standard protective wear). All participated children were subjected to examination, teeth polishing, excavation (debris, soft caries) and application of temporary filling and their behaviors were recorded by researcher according to Frankl scale and asked to select their anxiety level using FIS. Results: In the first group, Children anxiety decreased when they were treated by female operators wearing pediatric coat with decorated protective wear with mean value (1.30±0.48) .However, Children anxiety increased with operator wearing surgical scrub with standard protective wear with mean value (4.00±0.67)with no statistical significant difference. In the second group, Children dental anxiety significantly decreased when be treated in pediatric decorated dental clinic with mean value of Frankl scale scores was (3.55±0.76) and mean value of facial image scale scores was (1.40±0.94) and there was statistically high significant difference(p<0.001). Conclusion: children have strong preferences regarding the appearance of their dentist and dental clinics .That could greatly improve a patient’s perception of the care. Children anxiety slightly decreased with female dentist wearing pediatric coat with decorated protective wear. Also, children dental anxiety significantly decreased when treated in pediatric decorated dental clinic. Keywords: child anxiety, dentist attire, dental clinic design. |