Effectiveness of distraction techniques in the management of anxious children - A randomized controlled pilot trial

The aim was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two distraction techniques, magic trick and mobile dental game with tell-show-do (TSD) in the management of anxious children.

Two hundred and thirty children aged 4-5 years were screened for their baseline anxiety using the Chotta Bheem-Chutki scale. A double-blinded randomized control trial was conducted among 60 children with high anxiety scores. They were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 received a magic trick distraction technique. Group 2 received a mobile dental game distraction technique. Group 3, the control group received TSD. Readiness to accept the dental treatment and postoperative anxiety scores were recorded.

Statistically significant reduction in the anxiety level was seen in children who received magic (P = 0.001), mobile dental game (P < 0.001), and TSD technique (P < 0.001). Based on the readiness to accept dental treatment, there was a statistically significant difference between the three groups (P = 0.025). The children in the mobile group were found to accept the treatment faster compared to the magic and TSD groups.

All three techniques were equally effective in reducing the anxiety of children. The mobile dental game was superior to magic trick and TSD in terms of children's readiness to accept dental treatment.