Reliability and Validity of Measures Used in Assessing Dental Anxiety in 5-15 Year-Old Croatian Children

Sa？etak The aim of the study was to evaluate reliability and validity of different questionnaires and predict related cause-concomitant factors in assessing differnet aspects to childrens dental anxiety. Children were interviewed on dental anxiety, dispositional risk factors and satisfaction with the dentist after dental treatment had been accomplished. Parents were interiewed on dental anxiety as well. The study population included 165 children (91 boys) between the age od 5 and 15 years. They were sent to the dental Clinic by general practitioners, because of their dental fear and uncooperative bahaviour during previous dental visits. Children were treated by two dentists, both experienced in treating fearful children. The childrens total average CFSS-DS score was 27.02, with no significant difference with respect to gender. The highest Cronbach alpha scores regarding reliability were obtained for the S - DAI, the CFSS - DS and the PDAS. Pearsons correlations regarding validity represented significant correlations between the CMFQ, the CDAS and the S - DAI; the OAS, the CDAS and the S - DAI; as well as between the OAS and the DVSS - SV. Statistical analysis was performed in Statistics for Windows, Release 5.5 and release 7.5. Pearsons correlation coefficients were calculated for validity and Cronbach alpha for reliability of the measures. Spearman Brown prophecy formula was used for correction of the alpha scores. Previous negative medical experience has significant influence on children’s dental anxiety, supporting the Rachmans conditioning theory ( Rachman, 1991). Anxious children are more likely to exibit behaviour problems (agression) and are more introvert in expressing their judgement regarding the dentist. Both the S - DAI and teh CFSS - DS, which was standardized in the Croatian population sample, showed the highest reliability in assessment of children’s dental anxiety