Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT
Abstract Objective To evaluate whether the presence of a certified therapy dog specially trained for working in a dental setting may facilitate dental care of anxious pediatric patients. Methods The Norwegian Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics approved a randomized cross‐over...
Published in: | Clinical and Experimental Dental Research |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2023
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.679 https://doaj.org/article/7536eb45555a4232ba648f18f961e35c |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:7536eb45555a4232ba648f18f961e35c |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:7536eb45555a4232ba648f18f961e35c 2023-05-15T17:43:38+02:00 Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT Anne M. Gussgard Kerstin Carlstedt Malin Meirik 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.679 https://doaj.org/article/7536eb45555a4232ba648f18f961e35c EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.679 https://doaj.org/toc/2057-4347 2057-4347 doi:10.1002/cre2.679 https://doaj.org/article/7536eb45555a4232ba648f18f961e35c Clinical and Experimental Dental Research, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp 122-133 (2023) dental anxiety patient compliance random allocation therapy animals Dentistry RK1-715 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.679 2023-02-19T01:28:13Z Abstract Objective To evaluate whether the presence of a certified therapy dog specially trained for working in a dental setting may facilitate dental care of anxious pediatric patients. Methods The Norwegian Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics approved a randomized cross‐over trial with a study sample of n = 16 children aged between 6 and 12 years. The trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov. Pediatric patients referred to specialist care at the Public Dental Service Competence Center of Northern Norway (TkNN) because of anxiety were invited to partake in the trial. Study participants met twice for an intraoral examination by a specialist pediatric dentist. Per random allocation, a therapy dog team was present in the clinic operatory during the clinical examination on the first or the second visit. The primary outcome was the assessment of patient compliance during the intraoral examination (yes/no). Secondary outcomes were measurements of child satisfaction and anxiety using the CFSS‐DS scale (Dental subscale of Children's Fear Survey Schedule) completed by a parent/guardian. Supplementary outcomes were salivary cortisol level, heart rate variability, and skin conductance. Results Ten boys and six girls (mean age 8.5) were recruited. All completed both clinical visits and demonstrated full compliance while undergoing a dental examination. All study participants and guardians reported great satisfaction. The salivary cortisol level reduction during the clinical examination on the first visit decreased by 30% in the presence of the therapy dog and 20% without, while the decrease during the clinical examination on the second visit was 29% in the presence of the therapy dog and 3% without. Within the limitations of the experimental setup, the electrophysiological measurements were unreliable in the current study population. Conclusion Dog‐assisted therapy in a dental care setting appears to have a positive effect on children with dental anxiety or children that avoid dental care. Article in Journal/Newspaper Northern Norway Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Norway Clinical and Experimental Dental Research 9 1 122 133 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
dental anxiety patient compliance random allocation therapy animals Dentistry RK1-715 |
spellingShingle |
dental anxiety patient compliance random allocation therapy animals Dentistry RK1-715 Anne M. Gussgard Kerstin Carlstedt Malin Meirik Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT |
topic_facet |
dental anxiety patient compliance random allocation therapy animals Dentistry RK1-715 |
description |
Abstract Objective To evaluate whether the presence of a certified therapy dog specially trained for working in a dental setting may facilitate dental care of anxious pediatric patients. Methods The Norwegian Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics approved a randomized cross‐over trial with a study sample of n = 16 children aged between 6 and 12 years. The trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov. Pediatric patients referred to specialist care at the Public Dental Service Competence Center of Northern Norway (TkNN) because of anxiety were invited to partake in the trial. Study participants met twice for an intraoral examination by a specialist pediatric dentist. Per random allocation, a therapy dog team was present in the clinic operatory during the clinical examination on the first or the second visit. The primary outcome was the assessment of patient compliance during the intraoral examination (yes/no). Secondary outcomes were measurements of child satisfaction and anxiety using the CFSS‐DS scale (Dental subscale of Children's Fear Survey Schedule) completed by a parent/guardian. Supplementary outcomes were salivary cortisol level, heart rate variability, and skin conductance. Results Ten boys and six girls (mean age 8.5) were recruited. All completed both clinical visits and demonstrated full compliance while undergoing a dental examination. All study participants and guardians reported great satisfaction. The salivary cortisol level reduction during the clinical examination on the first visit decreased by 30% in the presence of the therapy dog and 20% without, while the decrease during the clinical examination on the second visit was 29% in the presence of the therapy dog and 3% without. Within the limitations of the experimental setup, the electrophysiological measurements were unreliable in the current study population. Conclusion Dog‐assisted therapy in a dental care setting appears to have a positive effect on children with dental anxiety or children that avoid dental care. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Anne M. Gussgard Kerstin Carlstedt Malin Meirik |
author_facet |
Anne M. Gussgard Kerstin Carlstedt Malin Meirik |
author_sort |
Anne M. Gussgard |
title |
Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT |
title_short |
Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT |
title_full |
Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT |
title_fullStr |
Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT |
title_full_unstemmed |
Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT |
title_sort |
intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: a pilot rct |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.679 https://doaj.org/article/7536eb45555a4232ba648f18f961e35c |
geographic |
Norway |
geographic_facet |
Norway |
genre |
Northern Norway |
genre_facet |
Northern Norway |
op_source |
Clinical and Experimental Dental Research, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp 122-133 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.679 https://doaj.org/toc/2057-4347 2057-4347 doi:10.1002/cre2.679 https://doaj.org/article/7536eb45555a4232ba648f18f961e35c |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.679 |
container_title |
Clinical and Experimental Dental Research |
container_volume |
9 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
122 |
op_container_end_page |
133 |
_version_ |
1766145768825028608 |