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dc.contributor.authorGussgard, Anne Margrete
dc.contributor.authorCarlstedt, Kerstin
dc.contributor.authorMeirik, Malin
dc.date.accessioned2022-11-24T11:33:02Z
dc.date.available2022-11-24T11:33:02Z
dc.date.issued2022-10-19
dc.description.abstract<p><b>Objective</b> To evaluate whether the presence of a certified therapy dog specially trained for working in a dental setting may facilitate dental care of anxious pediatric patients. <p><b>Methods</b> The Norwegian Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics approved a randomized cross-over trial with a study sample of <i>n</i> = 16 children aged between 6 and 12 years. The trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov. Pediatric patients referred to specialist care at the Public Dental Service Competence Center of Northern Norway (TkNN) because of anxiety were invited to partake in the trial. Study participants met twice for an intraoral examination by a specialist pediatric dentist. Per random allocation, a therapy dog team was present in the clinic operatory during the clinical examination on the first or the second visit. The primary outcome was the assessment of patient compliance during the intraoral examination (yes/no). Secondary outcomes were measurements of child satisfaction and anxiety using the CFSS-DS scale (Dental subscale of Children's Fear Survey Schedule) completed by a parent/guardian. Supplementary outcomes were salivary cortisol level, heart rate variability, and skin conductance. <p><b>Results</b> Ten boys and six girls (mean age 8.5) were recruited. All completed both clinical visits and demonstrated full compliance while undergoing a dental examination. All study participants and guardians reported great satisfaction. The salivary cortisol level reduction during the clinical examination on the first visit decreased by 30% in the presence of the therapy dog and 20% without, while the decrease during the clinical examination on the second visit was 29% in the presence of the therapy dog and 3% without. Within the limitations of the experimental setup, the electrophysiological measurements were unreliable in the current study population. <p><b>Conclusion</b> Dog-assisted therapy in a dental care setting appears to have a positive effect on children with dental anxiety or children that avoid dental care.en_US
dc.identifier.citationGussgard, Carlstedt, Meirik. Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT. Clinical and Experimental Dental Research. 2022en_US
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 2064579
dc.identifier.doi10.1002/cre2.679
dc.identifier.issn2057-4347
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/27527
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherWileyen_US
dc.relation.journalClinical and Experimental Dental Research
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccessen_US
dc.rights.holderCopyright 2022 The Author(s)en_US
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0en_US
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)en_US
dc.titleIntraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCTen_US
dc.type.versionpublishedVersionen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen_US
dc.typePeer revieweden_US


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Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)