Development and evaluation of the children’s experiences of dental anxiety measure
Open accessAbstract
Background: Existing measures of children's dental anxiety have not been developed with children or based on a theoretical framework of dental anxiety. Aim: To develop the children's experiences of dental anxiety measure (CEDAM) and evaluate the measure's properties. Design: The measure was developed from interviews with dentally anxious children. Children recruited from a dental hospital and secondary school completed the CEDAM and Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS). A subgroup of children completed the CEDAM before and after receiving an intervention to reduce dental anxiety to examine the measure's responsiveness. Rasch and Classical test analyses were undertaken. Results: Children were aged between 9 and 16 years (N = 88 recruited from a dental hospital and N = 159 recruited from a school). Rasch analysis confirmed the measure's unidimensionality. The CEDAM correlated well with the MCDAS (rho = 0.67, P < 0.01) and had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88) and test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.98). The CEDAM was also able to detect changes in dental anxiety following the intervention (baseline mean = 22.36, SD = 2.57 and follow‐up mean = 18.88, SD = 2.42, t(df = 37) = 9.54, P < 0.01, Cohen's d = 1.39). Conclusions: The results support the reliability, validity and responsiveness of the CEDAM. Initial findings indicate it has potential for use in future intervention trials or in clinical practice to monitor children's dental anxiety.
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The CEDAM was chosen because it is the first measure developed which fully involved children in the development process.
“It was chosen for use in this service evaluation as it is the first measure developed which fully involved children in the development process [15].”
From Evaluation of self-help cognitive behavioural therapy for children's dental anxiety in general dental practice (2019) · cites this paper as [15]
The CEDAM is a 14-item self-report measure that assesses the unhelpful thoughts, behaviours, physical symptoms, and feelings experienced by children with higher levels of dental anxiety.
“The CEDAM is based on a cognitive behavioural assessment model of anxiety and is a 14-item self-report measure which assesses the unhelpful thoughts, behaviours, physical symptoms, and feelings experienced by children who have higher levels of dental anxiety [15].”
From Evaluation of self-help cognitive behavioural therapy for children's dental anxiety in general dental practice (2019) · cites this paper as [15]
The CEDAM has previously demonstrated internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88) and excellent test-retest reliability (0.98).
“Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.88) and excellent test–retest reliability (0.98) of the measure has been previously demonstrated [15].”
From Evaluation of self-help cognitive behavioural therapy for children's dental anxiety in general dental practice (2019) · cites this paper as [15]
The mean baseline CEDAM score in this general dental practice sample (20.3) was slightly lower than the anxiety reported by children referred to specialist dental services (22.0).
“The mean score reported in this general dental practice sample at the beginning of dental treatment (mean = 20.3) was slightly lower than the anxiety reported by children with dental anxiety who had been referred to specialist dental services (a paediatric dental unit and community dental service) for dental treatment (mean = 22.0) [15].”
From Evaluation of self-help cognitive behavioural therapy for children's dental anxiety in general dental practice (2019) · cites this paper as [15]
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- Authors
- Porritt, J., Morgan, A., Rodd, H., Gupta, E., Gilchrist, F., Baker, S., Newton, T., Creswell, C., Williams, C., & Marshman, Z.
- Affiliations
- Sheffield Hallam University (GB)
- Charles Clifford Dental Hospital (GB)
- University of Sheffield (GB)
- King's College London (GB)
- University of Reading (GB)
- Gartnavel General Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Porritt, Jenny
- ORCID
- Venue
- International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-07-29
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 140-151
- ISSN
- 0960-7439 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-263X
- OpenAlex
- W2626627633
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 1.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- kclpure.kcl.ac.uk
- Licence
- Locations
- International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
- CentAUR (University of Reading) (acceptedVersion)
- SHURA (Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive) (Sheffield Hallam University) (acceptedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (RP_2014-04-018)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Oral Surgery › Dental Anxiety and Anesthesia Techniques
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Dental Health and Care Utilization
- Keywords
- dental anxiety, children, Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale, anxiety assessment, psychometric properties, responsiveness, Rasch analysis, reliability and validity, anxiety intervention, children's experiences
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Child, Psychology, Child, Female, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Reproducibility of Results, Dental Anxiety
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