Login / Signup

Children's Perceptions of Dental Experiences and Ways to Improve Them.

Melika ModabberKaren M CampbellC Meghan McMurtryAnna TaddioLaura J Dempster
Published in: Children (Basel, Switzerland) (2022)
This qualitative study explored children's perceptions of their dental experiences and their acceptability of the CARD™ (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract) system, adapted for the dental setting as a means to mitigate dental fear and anxiety (DFA). A purposive sample of 12 participants (7 males) aged 8-12 years receiving dental care at the Paediatric Dental Clinic, University of Toronto, was recruited. Virtual one-on-one interviews were augmented with visual aids. Participants were oriented to and asked about their perceptions of various dental procedures. Data were deductively analyzed, according to the Person-Centered Care framework (PCC). Four themes were identified: establishing a therapeutic relationship, shared power and responsibility, getting to know the person and empowering the person. Children emphasized the importance of clinic staff attributes and communication skills. They expressed a desire to engage more actively in their own care and highlighted the positive influence of pre-operative education and preparation. Participants found the CARD™ system to facilitate opportunities for self-advocacy in their dental care.
Keyphrases
  • healthcare
  • oral health
  • primary care
  • palliative care
  • quality improvement
  • young adults
  • intensive care unit
  • pain management
  • big data
  • solid phase extraction
  • long term care