Child's Temperament and Conscious Sedation Outcomes

• Main Author: Dixon, Jennifer Mark
• Format: Others
• Published: VCU Scholars Compass 2005
• Subjects: sedation; temperament; EAS Temperament Survey for Children; NCBRS; Dentistry; Medicine and Health Sciences; Pediatric Dentistry and Pedodontics
• Online Access: http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/654; http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1653&context=etd

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of child temperament and its effect on the outcome of conscious sedation using the following agents: Chloral Hydrate (35mg/kg), Meperidine (2mg/kg), and Hydroxyzine (2mg/kg).The Emotionality, Activity, Sociability (EAS) Temperament Survey for Children was used to measure the child's temperament. The temperament survey measures three realms (Emotionality, Activity, Sociability/Shyness). The sedation outcomes were rated using the modified North Carolina Behavior Rating Scale (NCBRS) from 1-4 (Quiet, Annoyed, Upset, and Wild). The final sample population consisted of 34 children, 24 girls (71%) and 10 boys (29%), ranging in age from 0-9 years old (M=5.6 years old, SD=1.8 years old). The sample population showed moderate emotionality (M=2.56, SD=0.96, p=0.5707), high activity (M=4.15, SD=0.72, p=0.2423), high sociability (M=3.63, SD=0.60, p=0.7853), and moderate shyness (M=2.50, SD=0.86, p=0.9930). Of the critical events, local anesthesia (F=74%, M=1.31, SD=0.58) and rubber dam placement (F=77%, M=1.26, SD=0.51) showed the most disruptive behaviors. Correlation results showed no significant temperament influence on overall effectiveness of sedation for the EAS sub-scales. Individual EAS scores, moderate emotionality, high activity, high sociability, and moderate shyness, did not predict the overall effectiveness of the sedation in this population.