Determining Cut-Off Points for the Dental Fear Survey
Objective. To determine a high fear cut-off point score for the Dental Fear Survey (DFS) using a single-item self-report questionnaire. Methods. The DFS, a 20-item questionnaire assessing fear of dental treatment, was completed by 1,256 participants with a mean age of 22.3 years (SD = 5.1). Another...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2015-01-01
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| Series: | The Scientific World Journal |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/983564 |
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| _version_ | 1832563116489048064 |
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| author | Maurício Antônio Oliveira Cristiane Baccin Bendo Saul Martins Paiva Miriam Pimenta Vale Júnia Maria Serra-Negra |
| author_facet | Maurício Antônio Oliveira Cristiane Baccin Bendo Saul Martins Paiva Miriam Pimenta Vale Júnia Maria Serra-Negra |
| author_sort | Maurício Antônio Oliveira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective. To determine a high fear cut-off point score for the Dental Fear Survey (DFS) using a single-item self-report questionnaire. Methods. The DFS, a 20-item questionnaire assessing fear of dental treatment, was completed by 1,256 participants with a mean age of 22.3 years (SD = 5.1). Another self-report questionnaire was used to collect data on previous dental experiences. A high fear cut-off point score was determined by calculating the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the DFS. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were calculated; a significance level of p<0.05 was used for all tests. Results. The ROC curve indicated that a DFS score ≥53 corresponds to a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 92.5%. Most participants (n=895; 71.5%) reported no fear of going to the dentist. There was significant association between DFS score and fear assessed with the question “Are you fearful of going to the dentist?” (p<0.001). Conclusion. A cut-off point of 53 on the DFS total score represents the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity and can be used to predict high dental fear. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d230c451996d4e84bfbd88a19f880f27 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2356-6140 1537-744X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Scientific World Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-d230c451996d4e84bfbd88a19f880f272025-02-03T01:20:57ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2015-01-01201510.1155/2015/983564983564Determining Cut-Off Points for the Dental Fear SurveyMaurício Antônio Oliveira0Cristiane Baccin Bendo1Saul Martins Paiva2Miriam Pimenta Vale3Júnia Maria Serra-Negra4Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilObjective. To determine a high fear cut-off point score for the Dental Fear Survey (DFS) using a single-item self-report questionnaire. Methods. The DFS, a 20-item questionnaire assessing fear of dental treatment, was completed by 1,256 participants with a mean age of 22.3 years (SD = 5.1). Another self-report questionnaire was used to collect data on previous dental experiences. A high fear cut-off point score was determined by calculating the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the DFS. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were calculated; a significance level of p<0.05 was used for all tests. Results. The ROC curve indicated that a DFS score ≥53 corresponds to a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 92.5%. Most participants (n=895; 71.5%) reported no fear of going to the dentist. There was significant association between DFS score and fear assessed with the question “Are you fearful of going to the dentist?” (p<0.001). Conclusion. A cut-off point of 53 on the DFS total score represents the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity and can be used to predict high dental fear.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/983564 |
| spellingShingle | Maurício Antônio Oliveira Cristiane Baccin Bendo Saul Martins Paiva Miriam Pimenta Vale Júnia Maria Serra-Negra Determining Cut-Off Points for the Dental Fear Survey The Scientific World Journal |
| title | Determining Cut-Off Points for the Dental Fear Survey |
| title_full | Determining Cut-Off Points for the Dental Fear Survey |
| title_fullStr | Determining Cut-Off Points for the Dental Fear Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determining Cut-Off Points for the Dental Fear Survey |
| title_short | Determining Cut-Off Points for the Dental Fear Survey |
| title_sort | determining cut off points for the dental fear survey |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/983564 |
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