FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DENTAL ANXIETY DURING PAEDIATRIC DENTAL CARE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN ACEH, INDONESIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70248/jophs.v3i3.4662Abstract
Dental anxiety is one of the most common psychological problems experienced by children during dental care and may reduce cooperation, compromise the quality of treatment, and discourage future utilisation of oral health services. This study examined the relationship between children’s characteristics and their level of dental anxiety at the Dental and Oral Polyclinic of UPTD RSUD Tgk. Chik Ditiro Sigli, Pidie District, Aceh, Indonesia. A quantitative observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted from 25 May to 8 June 2026 among 77 children aged 8–17 years recruited through total sampling. Child characteristics (sex, age, previous dental treatment experience, and parental educational level) were obtained through structured interviews and hospital information records, while anxiety was assessed by direct observation using the Facial Image Scale before, during, and after treatment. Data were analysed univariately and bivariately using the chi-square test with α = 0.05. Most respondents were boys (50.65%), aged 11–13 years (48.0%), had previous dental treatment experience (64.9%), and had parents holding a bachelor’s degree (58.4%). Anxiety peaked during treatment, when 58.4% of the children were categorised as highly anxious and none were free of anxiety. Sex was not significantly associated with anxiety (p = 0.498), whereas age (p = 0.011), previous dental treatment experience (p = 0.003), and parental educational level (p = 0.042) were significantly associated with children’s anxiety. Younger children, first-time attendees, and children whose parents had lower educational attainment showed the highest anxiety. Age-appropriate communication, a child-friendly clinical environment, and active parental involvement are therefore recommended to reduce dental anxiety among paediatric patients
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