Comparative efficacy of a self-report scale and physiological measures in dental anxiety of children.

Aim: To determine and correlate dental anxiety in children, using psychometric and physiological measures.
Methods: On hundred children (51 boys and 49 girls) were selected and anxiety was assessed using psychometric (Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale) and physiological measures (pulse rate and oxygen saturation levels), for local anesthetic administration. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS software version 11.0. Metric continuous data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Analysis between groups was carried out by using one way anova. Categorical variables were analyzed with "Fisher's exact test". For statistical significance, the probability value of < 0.05 was considered. The correlation among psychometric and physiological measures was assessed using the Spearman rank correlation.
Results: A very weak negative correlation between pulse rate and MCDAS(f) values was observed. The oxygen saturation level did not show significant variations and was not a reliable indicator of anxiety.
Conclusion: Both psychometric and physiological measures have their own merits and are important clinically. Even behavioral measures, although having observer bias, can be used as an adjuvant along with these measures. It is essential to take two or more measures into consideration rather than just one to assess dental anxiety.
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