Author : Laura Jeanne Dempster
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780494395905
Total Pages : 300 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (959 download)
Book Synopsis Measurement and Characterization of Fear and Avoidance in Dental Anxiety by : Laura Jeanne Dempster
Download or read book Measurement and Characterization of Fear and Avoidance in Dental Anxiety written by Laura Jeanne Dempster and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dental anxiety is the most common psychological condition encountered in dental practice. Gaps exist in our understanding of its epidemiology and characteristics due to a lack of consistency in the way studies have defined and measured it. The aim of this research was to develop a more comprehensive understanding of dental anxiety in the general population by investigating the prevalence and correlates of fear and avoidance. Specifically, the relationship between these cognitive and behavioural dimensions of dental anxiety was the focus of examination. A new test, the Dental Fear and Avoidance Scale (DFAS), was developed and its reliability and validity tested. Test-retest reliability of the DFAS showed an intraclass correlation of 0.87 for both fear and avoidance dimensions of the scale, demonstrating high reliability suitable for research purposes. The validity of the DFAS was tested by comparing fear and avoidance scores on the DFAS with responses to fear- and avoidance-related questions in a self-report questionnaire. Significant differences (p & le; 0.01) were noted between: mean scores for low and high DFAS fear categories and Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) scores, and questions regarding dental treatment, having a needle in the mouth, and various evoking stimuli; and between low and high avoidance DFAS categories and questions about avoidance behaviours, the frequency of dental visits and when subjects last saw a dentist. A correlation of 0.60 confirmed fear and avoidance as related but distinct entities. The DFAS categorized subjects (n=1184) as 62.7% low fear/low avoidance, 14.4% high fear/low avoidance, 6.3% low fear/high avoidance, and 16.6% high fear/high avoidance. Significant differences (p