R C I C Rank1, J E R Vilela2, M S Rank3, W N Ogawa2, J C P Imparato4. 1. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, UNIRG University, Av. Maranhão 1667, Tocantins, 77410-020, Brazil. riserank@yahoo.com.br. 2. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, UNIRG University, Av. Maranhão 1667, Tocantins, 77410-020, Brazil. 3. Public Health, Municipal Departament of Prevention in Oral Health, Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil. 4. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract
AIMS: To verify the effect of awards after dental care in children's motivation in two visits to the dentist and if differences occur between genders. METHODS: This was a randomised and blinded study with a systematic convenience sample consisting of 306 children of 4.99 ± 0.89 years old, with no previous dental experience for both genders, who sought the public dental services. The children were divided into Control group (G1) and Experimental group (G2), who received a positive reinforcement technique with awards after dental care. A projective test with the Venham Picture Test self-analysis was applied and the inference test was the Chi square test with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: In G1, there was evidence of a significant association between the T1, T2 and T4 application times and anxiety levels measured in children (p < 10- 4; x2 = 15.43), this same association was observed for the G2 group (p < 10- 10; x2 > 29.46). For boys there was no significant difference of anxiety between G1 and G2 groups, however in G2, girls showed more anxiety before dental treatment (p = 0.0095; x2 = 6.71) and less anxiety than boys during the second visit (p = 0.0014; x2 = 10.20). CONCLUSIONS: The award after dental care demonstrated a positive result for the decrease of anxiety in preschool children for two visits to the dentist. Girls in the experimental group showed less anxiety than boys during the second visit.
AIMS: To verify the effect of awards after dental care in children's motivation in two visits to the dentist and if differences occur between genders. METHODS: This was a randomised and blinded study with a systematic convenience sample consisting of 306 children of 4.99 ± 0.89 years old, with no previous dental experience for both genders, who sought the public dental services. The children were divided into Control group (G1) and Experimental group (G2), who received a positive reinforcement technique with awards after dental care. A projective test with the Venham Picture Test self-analysis was applied and the inference test was the Chi square test with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: In G1, there was evidence of a significant association between the T1, T2 and T4 application times and anxiety levels measured in children (p < 10- 4; x2 = 15.43), this same association was observed for the G2 group (p < 10- 10; x2 > 29.46). For boys there was no significant difference of anxiety between G1 and G2 groups, however in G2, girls showed more anxiety before dental treatment (p = 0.0095; x2 = 6.71) and less anxiety than boys during the second visit (p = 0.0014; x2 = 10.20). CONCLUSIONS: The award after dental care demonstrated a positive result for the decrease of anxiety in preschool children for two visits to the dentist. Girls in the experimental group showed less anxiety than boys during the second visit.
Entities:
Keywords:
Anxiety; Child; Paediatric dentistry; Public oral health services; Reinforcement