title: The interpersonal work of dental conscious sedation: A qualitative analysis.
abstract: Whilst there is a considerable body of literature examining the pharmacology of conscious sedation, the social tasks required to successfully provide conscious sedation have not been reported. This paper discusses data regarding the interpersonal work integral to effective conscious sedation provision, from a larger qualitative study exploring how patients and clinicians engage with secondary care conscious sedation provided within the UK.
  
  
  
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 conscious sedation providers and nine patients within UK-based secondary care sedation settings. Digital audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim and subsequently analysed using a constant comparative method within NVivo Data Analysis Software.
  
  
  
  Four main themes of interpersonal work were reported by participants: displaying care, containing emotions, demonstrating competence and maximizing the effect.
  
  
  
  This study shows that performing conscious sedation requires more than technical delivery, and involves the projection of attributes in a literal "performance." The importance of managing outward emotional appearance reflects previous dental research. The need to manage outward appearance, and the emotional impact this has, is of relevance to all clinicians.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3774-9440
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Woolley
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chadwick
authors.affiliation: Wales Deanery (School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education), Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pugsley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anxiety; behavioral science; grounded theory; qualitative research; special care