Dr. Smith is an assistant professor, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA;, Email:
Dr. Raja is an associate professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA.
Pediatr Dent. 2021 May 15;43(3):198-204.
The purpose of this study was to explore caregivers' comfort levels and preferences for answering sensitive questions about themselves and their children in a pediatric dental setting. An electronically delivered survey was completed by 206 caregivers in the waiting area of a dental school's pediatric clinic. The survey items assessed were demographic, general health, behavioral health, oral health, and living conditions. A factor analysis was conducted for each set of questions, and a mean comfort level was calculated for each factor. Comfort levels were assessed on a five-point Likert scale, with one being least comfortable and five being most comfortable. The questions caregivers were less comfortable answering about themselves were concerning traumatic events, stress, coping (mean equals 3.39), and living conditions (mean equals 3.24) versus demographics (mean equals 3.84) and physical and oral health (mean equals 3.99; P<0.001). They were also less comfortable answering questions about their children's trauma, stress, coping (mean equals 3.65), and experiences with violence and sexual activity (mean equals 3.13) than about demographics/general health (mean equals 4.11) and oral health (mean equals 4.21; P<0.001). The main reasons for the discomfort were the questions' sensitive nature and their belief that they had any relationship to their children's oral health. This study provides knowledge of caregivers' lower comfort levels discussing sensitive topics in a dental setting and provides context for interventions focused on how dentists can better communicate with caregivers about their own adverse experiences as well as their children's.
本研究旨在探讨照顾者在儿科牙科环境中回答自身和子女敏感问题的舒适度和偏好。通过电子方式向牙科学校儿科诊所候诊室的 206 名照顾者完成了调查。调查项目评估了人口统计学、一般健康、行为健康、口腔健康和生活条件。对每组问题进行了因子分析，并为每个因子计算了平均舒适度。舒适度通过五点李克特量表评估，1 表示最不舒服，5 表示最舒服。照顾者对自身不太舒服的问题是关于创伤事件、压力、应对（平均值为 3.39）和生活条件（平均值为 3.24），而不是人口统计学和身体及口腔健康（平均值为 3.99；P<0.001）。他们对孩子的创伤、压力、应对（平均值为 3.65）和暴力及性活动经历（平均值为 3.13）的问题也不太舒服，而对人口统计学/一般健康（平均值为 4.11）和口腔健康（平均值为 4.21；P<0.001）。感到不适的主要原因是问题的敏感性和他们认为这些问题与孩子的口腔健康有关。本研究提供了照顾者在牙科环境中讨论敏感话题时舒适度较低的知识，并为干预措施提供了背景，这些干预措施侧重于牙医如何更好地与照顾者就他们自身的不良经历以及他们孩子的经历进行沟通。
