The application of behaviour modification techniques among paediatric patients in a dental set-up- A pilot study

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the different non-pharmacological behaviour modification techniques preferred by the parents, to know whether single or multiple behaviour modification techniques are required to regulate the behaviour of the child and to assess the effectiveness of non-pharmacological behaviour modification techniques in the operating procedure. 30 children aged between 4-7 years who required pulp therapy treatment to be done under local anaesthesia were enrolled for the study with parental consent. A video containing different behaviour management techniques was shown to the parents who had accompanied the child to the operatory. A questionnaire was given to the parents for their feedback, the response to each question was coded and the values of each code were analyzed statistically. The parents’ preferred technique was applied to their children before the planned treatment. Nonpharmacological behaviour modification techniques were effective in 90% of the children and it was found to be highly significant (p ≤ 0.05). It was seen that 66.67% of the children required more than one nonpharmacological behaviour modification technique to make them behave positively. The most preferred technique by the parents in this study was Positive Reinforcement (30%).This study brings forth that nonpharmacological behaviour management techniques can be successfully used to regulate most of the children in a paediatric clinic setup.