Some psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale with cross validation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the factorial structure and construct validity for the Chinese version of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS).


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2006 from adults in the Beijing area. The questionnaire consisted of sections to assess for participants' demographic profile and dental attendance patterns, the Chinese MDAS and the anxiety items from the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The analysis was conducted in two stages using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Cross validation was tested with a North West of England comparison sample.


RESULTS
783 questionnaires were successfully completed from Beijing, 468 from England. The Chinese MDAS consisted of two factors: anticipatory dental anxiety (ADA) and treatment dental anxiety (TDA). Internal consistency coefficients (tau non-equivalent) were 0.74 and 0.86 respectively. Measurement properties were virtually identical for male and female respondents. Relationships of the Chinese MDAS with gender, age and dental attendance supported predictions. Significant structural parameters between the two sub-scales (negative affectivity and autonomic anxiety) of the HADS anxiety items and the two newly identified factors of the MDAS were confirmed and duplicated in the comparison sample.


CONCLUSIONS
The Chinese version of the MDAS has good psychometric properties and has the ability to assess, briefly, overall dental anxiety and two correlated but distinct aspects.
Yuan
Siyang
S
Dental Health Research Unit, Mackenzie Building, Ninewells Hospital, University of Dundee, UK. s.yuan@chs.dundee.ac.uk
Freeman
Ruth
R
Lahti
Satu
S
Lloyd-Williams
Ffion
F
Humphris
Gerry
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008347:Manifest Anxiety Scale; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012647:Self-Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires