Preferences of Dentist's Attire by Anxious and Nonanxious Indian Children.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate preferences of dentist's attire and gender by anxious and nonanxious children in India.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study included 1,008 nine- to 14-year-old children. Anxiety levels were measured using the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale. Children were provided with a series of photographs of dentists in different attires and were asked to choose in which attire they would prefer their dentists to perform treatment. The data obtained was analysed using Pearson's test and chi-square analysis.


RESULTS
There were 603 boys (60 percent) and 405 girls, among whom 56 percent were anxious. Anxious children preferred female dentists in formal attire (19 percent). Nonanxious children equally preferred female dentists in formal attire and white coat with glasses (15 percent).


CONCLUSIONS
Irrespective of the anxiety levels, the female dentist was the preferred choice among most of the children. However formal attire might be more appropriate for anxious children.
Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India. nimskrishna2007@gmail.com.
S V S G
SV
Nirmala
Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Sindhuri
S
Veluru
Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Sivakumar
S
Nuvvula
Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Sandeep
S
Chilamakuri
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003020:Clothing / Q000523:psychology*; D016854:Dental Anxiety; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires