Children's perceptions through drawings and verbal characterizations of the dentist
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7308/aodontol/2013.49.4.05Keywords:
Dentistry, Child, Dentist-patient relationsAbstract
Aim: The present study aimed to understand children’s perceptions of dentists by analyzing drawings and verbal characterizations.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study, with a quantitative and qualitative approach, was conducted with 60 children between 7 and 12 years of age in public and private schools. The parents/guardians answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and the children were interviewed about the characterization of the dentist, type of dental service, and the frequency of dental care. In addition, the children were asked to make a freehand drawing of the dentist. The analysis of the drawings was performed by means of a previously validated questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software, version 13.0, in the form of descriptive (absolute numbers and percentages) and inferential (Fisher’s exact test and Pearson’s Chi- squared test) statistics, considering a significance level of 5%.
Results: Upon analyzing the drawings, it could be observed that the majority of the children had a negative impression of the dentist (51.7%). More frequently, the dentist performed preventive procedures (71.7%), was friendly (76.7%), and explained the procedures to be performed on the children (79.4%); however, the majority of children did not understand the explanations (53.8%). In addition, a statistically significant association could only be made between males and the negative image of the dentist (p = 0.009).
Conclusion: The children had a negative impression of the dentist, which was associated with males. In addition, children did not understand the explanations of the procedures, despite the previous explanation. In this sense, the planning of actions aimed at demystifying the negative image of the dentist and the awareness of dental professional regarding the Psychology to be applied to children are of utmost importance.
Downloads
References
Bhatia S, Chadwick B. Behaviour management of anxious children. Dent Nurs. 2010; 6:88-92.
Davies EB, Buchanan H. An exploratory study investigating children’s perceptions of dental behavioural management techniques. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2013;23:297-309.
Massoni ACL, Ferreira JMS, Colares V, Duarte RC. Roteiro para interpretação de desenhos: facilitando a abordagem da criança no consultório odontológico. Arq Odontol. 2008;44:31-6.
Bottan ER, Oglio JD, Araújo SM. Ansiedade ao Tratamento Odontológico em Estudantes do Ensino Fundamental. Pesqui Bras Odontopediatria Clín Integr. 2007; 7:241-6.
Aminabadi NASL, Ghoreishizadeh A, Ghoreishizadeh M, Oskouei SG. Can drawing be considered a projective measure for children’s distress in paediatric dentistry? Int J Paediatr Dent. 2011;21:1-12.
Driessnack M. Children’s drawings as facilitators of communication: a meta-analysis. J Pediatr Nurs. 2005;20:415-23.
Looman WS. A developmental approach to understanding drawings and narratives from children displaced by Hurricane Katrina. J Pediatr Health Care. 2006;20:158-66.
Colares V, Arribas BS, Frei D, Lira MF. A percepção do dentista pela criança surda. Rev Fac Odontol Pernamb. 1999;17:33-40.
Colares V, Santos MF. Visão que a criança tem do dentista através da interpretação de desenhos. Rev ABO Nac. 2000;7:359-63.
Taani DQ, El-Qaderi SS, Abu Alhaija ES. Dental anxiety in children and its relationship to dental caries and gingival condition. Int J Dent Hyg. 2005;3:83-7.
Fioravante DP, Soares MRZ, Silveira JM, Zakir NSA. Análise funcional da interação profissional-paciente em odontopediatria. Estud Psicol. 2007;24:267-77.
Ferreira MA, Manso MC, Gavinha S. Ansiedade e fobia dentária: avaliação psicométrica num estudo transversal. Rev Port Estomatol Med Dent Cir Maxilofac. 2008;49:77-86.
Ten Berge M, Veerkamp J, Hoogstraten J. Dentists behavior in response to child dental fear. J Dent Child. 1999;66:36-40.
Klingberg G, Broberg A. Dental fear / anxiety and dental behaviour management problems in children and adolescents: a review of prevalence and concomitant psychological factors. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2007;17:391-406.
Carrillo-Diaz M, Crego A, Romero-Maroto M. The influence of gender on the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health-related emotional well-being. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2013;23:180-7.
Wogelius P, Poulsen S, Sørensen T. Prevalence of dental anxiety and behaviour management problems among six to eight years old Danish children. Acta Odontol Scand. 2003;61:178-83.
Ramos-Jorge J, Marques LS, Homem MA, Paiva SM, Ferreira MC, Ferreira FO, et al. Degree of dental anxiety in children with and without toothache: prospective assessment. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2013;23:125-30.
Pavarino MG, Prette AD, Prette ZAP. Agressividade e empatia na infância: Um estudo correlacional com pré-escolares. Interação Psicol. 2005;9:215-25.
Ferreira JMS, Aragão AKR, Colares V. Técnicas de controle do comportamento do paciente infantil: revisão de literatura. Pesqui Bras Odontopediatria Clín Integr. 2009;9:247-51.
Fayle AS, Tahmassebi JF. Pediatric Dentistry in the new millennium: 2. Behavior management- helping children to accept dentistry. Dent Update. 2003;30:294-8.
