The use of pediatric behavior management techniques among Syrian dentists: A cross-sectional study

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the attitude toward several behavior management techniques among Syrian pediatric dentists (PDs), general dental practitioners (GDPs), and other dental specialists (ODSs). Dental fear and anxiety are highly prevalent among schoolchildren and pre-school children. Behavior management techniques can be either pharmacological or non-pharmacological. Distraction is a nonpharmacological behavior management technique, which is safe, economical, and effective. A self-designed questionnaire was distributed through social networks. Syrian GDPs, PDs, and ODSs participated in the online questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of four sections and required responses regarding participants’ demographic characteristics, work setting, the use of several behavior management techniques, and attitude toward tablet distraction use. Pearson’s Chi-square test was performed at 5% for statistical analysis using SPSS version 23.0. A total of 642 participants responded. Most of the participants reported using tell-show-do (63.08%) and positive reinforcement (65.58%) techniques. Less than half of the participants (45.79%) used virtual reality (VR) eyeglasses for distraction. PDs used cartoons and storytelling techniques significantly more than GDPs and ODSs, with P = 0.023 and P < 0.001, respectively. However, most of the participants never used touch screen video games (74.45%) or joystick video games (92.21%) for distraction. Half of the questionnaire participants (52.34%) were unsure about using a tablet device for distraction. This study concluded that tell-show-do, positive reinforcement techniques, and VR eyeglasses were used the most. However, the vast majority of the participants never used video games for distraction. A good proportion of the study participants were hesitant about using a tablet device as a means of distraction.