Utility of the gagging problem assessment questionnaire in assessing patient sensitivity to dental treatments

Although the Gagging Problem Assessment Questionnaire (GPA) can be used to identify patients with gag reflex, it does not provide information about patient sensitivity to dental procedures. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of GPA in determining patient sensitivity (i.e. gag reflex) in response to intra-oral radiography and impression-taking procedures. The study included 95 patients (65 women; mean age, 44·2 ± 13·4 years) undergoing dental treatment at a Turkish dental school. Patients completed the patient section of the GPA before their dental examination. An observing dentist monitored and scored the gag reflex of patients during each step of intra-oral radiographic examination and impression taking. The overall sensitivity of the patient to the entire process was also recorded. Descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance and the Tukey's test were used for statistical analysis. Patients with GPA scores of 1·00-1·74 did not show any gagging or displayed only mild discomfort during the procedures. Patients with GPA scores of 1·75-3·24 showed moderate gagging, which was managed with prophylactic and suppressive precautions. Patients with GPA scores of 3·25-4·00 were unable to complete the procedures because of gagging. Differences (all P < 0·001) were found between the three groups for the observed responses of patients during radiography (F, 203·343), impression (F, 175·035) and radiography + impression procedures (F, 228·319), with no significant difference between women and men. In conclusion, GPA may be helpful for the prediction of patient sensitivity to dental treatments.