Video Modelling and Dental Determinants on Dental Anxiety in Children

The Role of the "Let's Go to the Dentist!" Video Modelling and Dental Determinants on Dental Anxiety in Children

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if video modelling reduces dental anxiety in children aged 8-12 years in Depok City. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does video modelling exposure significantly lower dental anxiety levels compared to educational video or control groups? Do family sociodemographic factors, dental health knowledge, dental visit patterns, and caries experience contribute to children's dental anxiety? Researchers compare anxiety scores of the video modelling group to the educational video group and control group (no intervention) to assess anxiety reduction effects before and after controlling for confounding factors. Children aged 8-12 years are the participants. Enumerators interview them using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale Integrated with Facial Image Scale (MDAS+FIS) before and after each intervention, while children watch assigned videos: video modelling (twice), educational video (twice), or none (control). Enumerators record all responses. Children also undergo World Health Organization Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (WHO DMFT/dmft) index dental exams plus interviews about dental knowledge, practices, caries complaints, and visit patterns. Parents complete separate interviews and surveys about family sociodemographics, their own dental knowledge and practice, and their children's dental knowledge, practices, visits, and caries experience.

Dental problems affect children worldwide due to sociodemographic factors, high sugar intake, limited access, urbanization, and lifestyle changes, particularly in low and middle income countries. Indonesia's Riset Kesehatan Dasar/Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) 2018 documented 67.3% prevalence among children aged 5-9 years and 55.6% among 10-14 years with only 14.6% and 9.4% accessing professional care respectively, highlighting dental anxiety as a key mediator alongside established risk factors. Family and school environments critically shape children's dental health attitudes, supporting early promotive preventive interventions.

This study tests video modeling, a safe, scalable nonpharmacologic approach leveraging observational learning, against placebo and control conditions. The experimental intervention demonstrates sequential prosocial behaviors through a child model, including calm greeting of dental staff, positive responses to instructions, procedural tolerance without distress, and satisfied departure.

The design evaluates repeated exposure effects, specifically two viewings with 30 minute interval, within urban Depok elementary schools representing diverse socioeconomic contexts. Parental interviews provide additional perspectives alongside quantitative outcomes on dental health determinants, informing national policy translation

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Schoolchildren aged 8-12 years old at time of enrolment
2. Resident of Depok City, West Java, Indonesia
3. Currently enrolled in participating elementary school
4. Parent/legal guardian able to provide written informed consent
5. Child able to provide verbal assent to participate
6. Willing and able to complete study assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Currently receiving orthodontic treatment
2. Reside outside Depok City boundaries (verified post-assessment)
3. Age criteria violation (outside 8-12 year range at assessment)
4. Parent/caregiver unavailable for parent questionnaire interview
5. Incomplete child questionnaire responses on outcome measures
6. Institutional residence (orphanage, boarding school)
7. Inability to provide informed consent/assent