LET’S GEAR PAST THE FEAR – COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF FILMED MODELLING AND TELL-SHOW-DO TECHNIQUE BASED ON SITUATIONAL ANXIETY DURING FIRST DENTAL VISIT– AN ORIGINAL STUDY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A successful dental treatment by a Paediatric dentist is depicted with a smile on the treated child’s face. The most popular techniques followed in practice for behaviour management of a child is Filmed Modelling and Tell-Show-Do which is compared in the present study. AIM: To compare the effectiveness of Filmed Modelling and Tellshow-Do behaviour management technique on situational anxiety amongst the children during their first dental visit. MATERIALS & METHODS: Children of age group between 5 to 9 years presenting for the first time to the dental outpatient unit were randomly selected for the study. 50 children were divided into two groups; Group I received Filmed Modelling technique and Group II received Tell-Show-Do technique. Each child’s anxiety was measured using modified Venham’s anxiety rating scale and physiological changes were monitored using pulse oximeter before behaviour management and after treatment by oral prophylaxis. RESULTS: Student’s t test was done to compare the anxiety rating and Chi square test was done to compare the heart rates measured at two intervals. Statistically significant differences were seen in clinical anxiety rating scores between the two groups where Filmed Modelling was found to be better and no statistically significant differences were observed on comparison of heart rates between the two study groups. KEYWORDS: Filmed modelling, Tell-Show-Do, Situational anxiety, Dental anxiety, Anxiety measurements