title: Acceptability of behaviour therapy for dental phobia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine how people with dental phobia rate the acceptability of behavioural therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty individuals with dental phobia participated in a three-factor experimental vignette-based design. The three factors examined were dental treatment history, nature of intervention (intravenous sedation or behavioural therapy) and treatment outcome. There were eight different vignettes representing all combinations of the three experimental variables, and 15 participants completed each vignette.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment outcome had a strong effect on rated acceptability (F = 115.76, P < 0.001). There was a weaker effect of treatment type (F = 5.49, P < 0.05) with behavioural therapy rated as more acceptable than intravenous sedation. Previous history of intravenous sedation was associated with a decreased perception that it is possible to overcome dental fear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The perceptions of individuals with dental phobia of the acceptability of behavioural approaches to management are influenced by the perceived outcome of the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sedation & Special Care Dentistry, King's College London Dental Institute, UK.
authors.forename: M D L
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Newton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires