Association of Dental Treatment Related Anxiety with Sterilization Concerns Among Patients

Abstract

Introduction: To assess the anxiety related to dental treatment and its association with sterilization concerns in dental
patients
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 patients visiting the dental OPD of Sharif
Medical and Dental College, Lahore from June 2019 to June 2020. A questionnaire regarding level of dental anxiety was
given to the patients. Data was collected using a pre-validated scale with a Cronbach alpha value of 0.89; Modified Dental
Anxiety Scale (MDAS). Levels of anxiety was categorized as high level of anxiety (score >19) and moderate to low anxiety
(score<18).
Results: There was no statistically significant association between the level of dental anxiety due to sterilization concerns
(p=0.250). Gender had a non-significant association while age (p=0.001) and marital status (p=0.002) and level of education
(p=0.020) had a significant association with dental anxiety due to sterilization concerns.
Conclusion: Most of the patients reported to feel anxious moderately before dental treatment because of sterilization
concerns. A higher percentage of females, the age group 18 to 29 years and patients with tertiary level of education
reported the highest percentage of anxiety due to sterilization concerns during dental treatment.