A Novel assessment tool monitoring the level of patient anxiety during third molar surgery procedure

• Main Authors: Randa Alfotawi, Abdulrahman Alhowikan, Alia Alfadhel, Sangeetha Premnath, Jamilah Tawhari, Anfal Alhamid, Shaima Bahammam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020-01-01
• Series: Heliyon
• Subjects: Dentistry; Surgery; Anxiety; Clinical trial; Third molar; Oral surgery
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584401936236X
• ISSN: 2405-8440

The authors hypothesized that an audio-visual presentation providing information regarding the removal of an impacted mandibular third molar would reduce patient anxiety. Aim& objectives: A clinical trial was performed to assess the level of patient anxiety during third molar surgery by using a new induction program and comparing the results amongst two groups that were the verbally informed and the audio-visual informed groups. Materials and methods: the clinical trial included the patients who required surgical removal of an impacted third molar and fulfilled the predetermined criteria. The patients were divided into two groups - group 1 (no. = 20) the audio visual informed group and group 2(no. = 20) the verbally informed group. For both the groups the HR was recorded beat by beat using HR sensor (polar H1 UK) connected to an ActiGraph WGT3X- 3T USA. Also the modified dental analogue scale(MDAS) was used to subjectively record the anxiety during the surgery. Results: The HR reading were statistically significant for the following surgical stages; drilling, suturing and upon leaving the clinic. The audio-visual informed group had lower self-reported anxiety scores than did the verbally informed group. Conclusion: These results suggested that providing an audio-visual presentation about the surgical procedures in our routine clinical practice could aid in alleviating anxiety which would thereby reduce surgical complications.