Anxiety Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anxiety, including details on anxiety disorder, panic attacks, medication, counselling, therapy.

Self-reported efficacy of an online dental anxiety support group: a pilot study.

Coulson NS, Buchanan H

Institute of Work, Health and Organisations, University of Nottingham, UK. neil.coulson@nottingham.ac.uk

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the self-reported effectiveness of an existing online dental anxiety support group in terms of perceived level of anxiety since accessing the group. METHODS: An online questionnaire was completed by 91 individuals who accessed the Dental Fear Central, an online support group bulletin board, during an 8-week period in 2005. Participants reported background demographic information, their own self-reported evaluation of the efficacy of the support group, as well as completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). RESULTS: In total, 60% of the sample considered that the support group had 'somewhat' or 'greatly lessened' their anxiety. Overall MDAS scores were significantly lower in the 'greatly lessened' group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this nonrandomised pilot study suggest some individuals retrospectively considered that, since accessing the online group, they experienced a reduction in dental anxiety. Future research should employ a randomised controlled design in order to determine the contribution of the online group to self-reported changes in dental anxiety over time.

Published 21 January 2008 in Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 36(1): 43-6.
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