title: Attitudes of Saudi parents toward behavior management techniques in pediatric dentistry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of the Saudi parents toward the different behavior management techniques (BMT) used in pediatric dentistry and assess the factors affecting such attitudes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two videotapes, each containing 10 BMT, were produced, one with and the other without explanation and objectives of each technique. Parents (N = 133) watched the videotapes as individuals or in groups and rated the acceptability of each BMT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that generally Saudi parents readily accept most BMT. Informed parents reported higher acceptance levels of BMT than the uninformed parents (F = 23.975, P = .0001). Group viewers reported less acceptance levels than individual viewers (F = 46.940, P = .001). The tell-show-do, positive reinforcement, and distraction were the most readily acceptable techniques, while parent separation, physical restraint, hand over mouth, and voice control were the least accepted techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Generally Saudi parents accepted most of the BMT. Explanation enhanced their level of acceptance.
authors.affiliation: Division of the Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Manal Sharaf
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Abushal
authors.forename: Joseph Olufemi
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Adenubi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology*; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D014743:Videotape Recording