Comparative Evaluation of an Audiovisual Distraction Aid and Print Format Entertainment on Pain Perception, Anxiety and Children Behavior in the Dental Setting

Nanika Mahajan; Bhanu Kotwal; Ankita Gupta; Bhavana Kaul; Rakesh K Gupta; Sambhav Kaul

doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10005-2329

Comparative Evaluation of an Audiovisual Distraction Aid and Print Format Entertainment on Pain Perception, Anxiety and Children Behavior in the Dental Setting

Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2022 Jan-Feb;15(1):54-59. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-2329.

Authors

Nanika Mahajan¹, Bhanu Kotwal², Ankita Gupta³, Bhavana Kaul¹, Rakesh K Gupta¹, Sambhav Kaul⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Indira Gandhi Government Dental College Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
² Department of Periodontology, Indira Gandhi Government Dental College Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
³ Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Indira Gandhi Government Dental College Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
⁴ Department of Dentistry, Government Hospital, Sarwal, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of using audio-visual entertainment aids and print format entertainment aid (comics) on children's pain and anxiety.

Materials and methods: This randomized parallel trial was performed on 60 patients aged 5 and 9 years, who required pulp therapy. The study consisted of three study groups, Group 1- treatment along with PlayStation, Group-2 treatment along with comic group, and Group 3- control group (treatment without any entertainment).

Results: Mean age was 7.1 ± 0.29 years. There was a significant improvement in the patients who were given treatment along with PlayStation. (p < 0.001) Statistically significant differences were found (p < 0.001) in terms of parental perception of the patient's anxiety during the visits.

Conclusion: It was concluded from the study that use of distraction method techniques is effective in reducing situational anxiety and parental perception of pain distress in younger children.

Clinical relevance: Entertainment while treating pediatric patient can help in improving the comfort level of patient in a clinical setup.

How to cite this article: Mahajan N, Kotwal B, Gupta A, et al. Comparative Evaluation of an Audiovisual Distraction Aid and Print Format Entertainment on Pain Perception, Anxiety and Children Behavior in the Dental Setting. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(1):54-59.

Keywords: Audio-visual; Behavior assessment; Dental anxiety.