Conversion tables for the Corah and Modified Dental Anxiety Scales.
Dental anxiety assessment can be achieved by using brief multi-item scales. Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale has been used extensively since the 1970s. However the scale has some flaws which led to the design of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale incorporating some minor but important improvements. To enable comparison between studies who have adopted one but not both scales a conversion algorithm was required.


OBJECTIVE
To produce regression equations and tables to enable researchers to convert derived scores from one scale to another.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
18 dental practices in Northern Ireland.


METHODS
Patients (n = 1,028) were invited to participate.


METHODS
Corah and Modified Dental Anxiety Scales.


RESULTS
Twenty four patients refused (response rate 98%) providing 1,004 patients for analysis. Mean scores for both scales were close to those reported elsewhere. The correlation between the two scales was high (r = 0.89). Regression equation and summary tables presented for conversion purposes.


CONCLUSIONS
More accurate estimates of scale scores can be derived with this procedure than simple prorating.
Freeman
R
R
DHSRU, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK.
Clarke
H M M
HM
Humphris
G M
GM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires