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Evaluation of children's pain expression and behavior using audio visual distraction.
Alicia Delgado1, Soo-Min Ok1,2, Donald Ho1
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Clinical and Experimental Dental Research
|February 23, 2021
Summary
Audio-visual distraction (AVD) significantly improved children's behavior during dental visits. While AVD did not alter pain perception, it effectively enhanced cooperation in pediatric dental patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Behavioral Science
- Pain Management
Background:
- Dental anxiety negatively impacts children's oral health and increases healthcare costs.
- Distraction techniques can modify children's behavior during dental procedures.
- Evaluating audio-visual distraction (AVD) is crucial for improving pediatric dental care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of audio-visual distraction on children's behavior during dental treatment.
- To evaluate the effect of AVD on children's pain expression during dental procedures.
Main Methods:
- 100 children (4-6 years) were randomized into AVD (N=61) and control (CTR, N=39) groups.
- Children's behavior was assessed using the Frankl behavior rating scale.
- Pain was measured pre- and post-treatment using a faces pain rating scale.
Main Results:
- The AVD group showed significantly higher "definitely positive" behavior (91.8%) compared to the CTR group (35.9%) (p < 0.0001).
- No significant differences in post-treatment pain or changes in pain were observed between groups (p = 0.2073, p = 0.1532).
Conclusions:
- Audio-visual distraction is an effective tool for improving young children's behavior in the dental setting.
- AVD's positive behavioral effects are independent of the child's subjective pain experience.
