title: Gagging Problem Assessment: a re-evaluation.
abstract: The Gagging Problem Assessment (GPA) is an instrument to evaluate dental gagging. Although the GPA seemed to be reliable and valid in a pilot study, a replication study with more subjects was needed. Based on the pilot study, the number of items was reduced, resulting in the revised version of the GPA (GPA-R). The aims of this study were to replicate the reliability of the GPA-R and to investigate the correlation between dental gagging and general anxiety. Dental gagging patients (n = 59) were compared with a control group (n = 17) at t0 and 3 weeks later. The 'gagging group' also filled in the SCL-90 anxiety scale. Gagging-specific homogenous domains and internal consistency were determined. Stability and distinguishing capacity of the GPA-R were assessed. SCL-90-Anxiety scores were compared with standard values in a non-clinical population. The GPA-R patient part was able to reliably discriminate between the absence or the presence of dental gagging. However, the reliability of the GPA-R-dentist part was insufficient. The GPA-R seems to be sensitive to subtle differences in acts of the dentists. To overcome these problems, more detailed and explicit instructions on how to use the GPA-R should be formulated and more specific gagging stimuli should be included. The 'gagging group' reported 'fear of choking' significantly more often than the control group (P = 0·008). This finding might be important for the treatment of dental gagging. Considering the outcome of our study, development of a new diagnostic gagging tool needs another approach that focuses on gagging severity.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: G F E C
authors: GF
authors: van Linden van den Heuvell
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.|Private Dental Practice, Grou, The Netherlands.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: de Boer
authors: Private Dental Practice, Grou, The Netherlands.
authors: B J
authors: BJ
authors: Ter Pelkwijk
authors: Centre for Dentistry and Oral Hygiene University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.|Centre for Special Dental Care, Martini Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Bildt
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Stegenga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005683:Gagging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
keywords: gagging; oral health; oral physiology; oral rehabilitation