Omer Osman Kheir1, Hassan Mahmoud Ziada2, Neamat Hassan Abubakr3, Manar Elsheikh Abdel-Rahman4, Sahar Mohamed Fadl1, Yahia Eltayib Ibrahim5. 1. National Diabetes and Prevention Program, NCD, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 2. Department of General Dental Practice, Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, Kuwait, Kuwait. 3. Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA. 4. Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. 5. Department of Oral Rehabilitation, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of the patient-dentist relationship on dental anxiety among young adult Sudanese patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 864 patients attending outpatient dental clinics of the governmental dental hospitals in Khartoum, Sudan were recruited; 51.2% were males and 48.8% were females, with an age range of 18-24 years. The questionnaire used evaluated the socio-demographics, education levels, economic status, patient experience, and also included the Dental Anxiety Scale, Corah (J Dent Res 1969 48: 596). RESULTS: High dental anxiety was reported by 22.2%, 29.5% reported moderate dental anxiety, and 48.3% reported low or no dental anxiety. There were statistically significant associations between dental anxiety and gender, time lapse since the previous dental visit (P < 0.004) and the reason for the previous visit (P < 0.001). In addition, the dental clinic environment (P < 0.002), the time waiting before seeing the dentist (P < 0.001) and the overhearing of pain expressed by other patients (P < 0.001) were also statistically significant. Negative comments by the treating dentist also had a statistically significant impact (P < 0.032). In contrast, a clear explanation of related dental care (P < 0.008), as well as the allowance of adequate time to discuss oral health (P < 0.006), had significantly positive effects. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the patient-dentist relationship had a significant association with dental anxiety, and may be an important target for improving the delivery and standards of oral health in dentally anxious patients in this region.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of the patient-dentist relationship on dental anxiety among young adult Sudanese patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 864 patients attending outpatient dental clinics of the governmental dental hospitals in Khartoum, Sudan were recruited; 51.2% were males and 48.8% were females, with an age range of 18-24 years. The questionnaire used evaluated the socio-demographics, education levels, economic status, patient experience, and also included the Dental Anxiety Scale, Corah (J Dent Res 1969 48: 596). RESULTS: High dental anxiety was reported by 22.2%, 29.5% reported moderate dental anxiety, and 48.3% reported low or no dental anxiety. There were statistically significant associations between dental anxiety and gender, time lapse since the previous dental visit (P < 0.004) and the reason for the previous visit (P < 0.001). In addition, the dental clinic environment (P < 0.002), the time waiting before seeing the dentist (P < 0.001) and the overhearing of pain expressed by other patients (P < 0.001) were also statistically significant. Negative comments by the treating dentist also had a statistically significant impact (P < 0.032). In contrast, a clear explanation of related dental care (P < 0.008), as well as the allowance of adequate time to discuss oral health (P < 0.006), had significantly positive effects. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the patient-dentist relationship had a significant association with dental anxiety, and may be an important target for improving the delivery and standards of oral health in dentally anxious patients in this region.