Further evidence for the reliability and validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale.
OBJECTIVE
To gain further evidence of the psychometric properties of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale.


METHODS
Dental admission clinics.


METHODS
Consecutive sampling, cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Patients (n = 800) in four cities (Belfast, Northern Ireland; Helsinki, Finland; Jyväskylä, Finland and Dubai, UAE).


METHODS
Questionnaire booklet handed to patients, attending clinics, for completion following an invitation by the researcher to be included in the study.


METHODS
Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), together with further questions concerning dental attendance and nervousness about dental procedures.


RESULTS
Overall 9.3 per cent of patients indicated high dental anxiety. MDAS showed high levels of internal consistency, and good construct validity. The relationship of dental anxiety with age was similar to previous reports and showed lowered anxiety levels in older patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Data from three countries has supported the psychometric properties of this modified and brief dental anxiety scale.
Humphris
G M
GM
Department of Clinical Psychology, Whelan Building, University of Liverpool, L69 3GB, UK. cpsy1@liverpool.ac.uk
Freeman
R
R
Campbell
J
J
Tuutti
H
H
D'Souza
V
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008347:Manifest Anxiety Scale; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology