Uso de dos técnicas alternativas de manejo de conducta: musicoterapia y distracción audiovisual, en el control y manejo de ansiedad en pacientes pediátricos de 5 a 10 años

Abstract

It has been shown that anxiety has a significant influence on a child’s behavior during a dental appointment and consequently a negative impact on their oral health. It may cause the child to reject their dental treatment. Today, dentists can choose non-pharmacological techniques for the management and control of anxiety to achieve a receptive patient behaviour. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare two non-pharmacological techniques and for managing anxiety before, during and after dental treatment in 5 to 10 year-old children treated at the university health center. Material and Methods: A quasi experimental study was carried out and the anxiety levels obtained with the Venham Picture Test (1-8) Venham Anxiety Scale (0-5), were applied in 60 pediatric patients in total, using the non-pharmacological techniques: music therapy and audiovisual distraction. Results: The mean score obtained before the dental appointment with the Venham Picture Test was 2 for the control group; 1.4 for the music therapy group and 1.45 for the audiovisual group. The mean score of Venham Anxiety scale during a dental appointment was 1.4 for the control group and 0.2 for the music therapy and audiovisual group. Lastly, the score after dental appointment was 1.95 for the control group, 0.45 for the music therapy group and 0.3 for the audiovisual group. There is a significant difference among the three groups (p=0,001) for anxiety. Conclusions: We conclude that there was a reduction of anxiety levels during and after using both non-pharmacological techniques in the studied population.