The Reliability and Validity of the Japanese Version of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale among Dental Outpatients.

Mika Ogawa,Teppei Sago,Hirokazu Furukawa

doi:10.1155/2020/8734946

Abstract

Introduction A careful assessment of dental anxiety is necessary for its management. The Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) is one of the most commonly used questionnaires to measure dental anxiety in the world. The reliability and validity of the Japanese version of MDAS have been demonstrated using undergraduates and a few patients with dental anxiety. The aim of the present study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the MDAS using a wide range of age samples in dental clinics. Methods A total of 275 outpatients (145 men and 130 women; 21–87 years) from two dental clinics participated in the present study. Dental anxiety was assessed using the Japanese version of the MDAS and the Dental Fear Survey (DFS). The psychometric evaluation included exploratory factor analysis, and Cronbach's α was used to evaluate for internal consistency. Criterion validity was assessed by correlating the MDAS and DFS scores using Spearman's correlation coefficient. validity was evaluated by examining related factors' differences in the MDAS score (e.g., sex and negative dental experiences). Results Six patients (2.2%) reported high levels of dental anxiety (MDAS score ≥ 19). The internal consistency of the MDAS score was high (Cronbach's α = 0.88). Dental anxiety was significantly higher among women (P=0.007), in patients with previous negative dental experiences (P < 0.001), and among those with lower frequencies of dental visits (P < 0.001). The MDAS score was significant and related to age (r = 0.48) and the DFS score (r = 0.87). Factor analysis revealed all items measured only one construct. Conclusions The Japanese version of the MDAS score was found to be a reliable and valid measure of dental anxiety among dental outpatients. It could be useful for the Japanese dental practitioner to measure dental anxiety in a clinical setting.

Highlights

A careful assessment of dental anxiety is necessary for its management. e Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) is one of the most commonly used questionnaires to measure dental anxiety in the world. e reliability and validity of the Japanese version of MDAS have been demonstrated using undergraduates and a few patients with dental anxiety. e aim of the present study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the MDAS using a wide range of age samples in dental clinics
E Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) was developed in 1995 as an improvement on Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS), and it has been translated into 22 different languages [10]. e CDAS comprises four dental items, but it does not include an item that assesses the patient’s fear of local anesthetic injections [11] even though local anesthetic injections are one of the strongest stimuli to evoke dental anxiety [12]. e MDAS comprises five items, including the Dental Anxiety Scale and an item for local anesthetic injection
After the participants provided informed consent, they responded to a self-administered questionnaire while they sat in the waiting room of the dental clinic. e present study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kyushu Dental University (No 18–24)

Summary

Introduction

Dental fear and/or anxiety can cause patients to avoid dental treatment and result in poor oral health that is related to quality of life [1,2,3,4]. E CDAS comprises four dental items, but it does not include an item that assesses the patient’s fear of local anesthetic injections [11] even though local anesthetic injections are one of the strongest stimuli to evoke dental anxiety [12]. Erefore, the MDAS has advantages when compared with other questionnaires because of its quick administration and screening of patients with dental anxiety. It is commonly used in dental clinics and epidemiological surveys. E aim of the present study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the MDAS among dental outpatients in Japan and to compare the prevalence of high levels of dental anxiety in Japan with results in other countries

Methods

Measurements

Results