The Greek version of the Gagging Assessment Scale in children and adolescents: psychometric properties, prevalence of gagging, and the association between gagging and dental fear

Abstract

The GAS demonstrated good psychometric properties. Dental fear was correlated with the self-report gagging assessment, but not with the objective gagging assessment.

Gagging prevalence and its association with dental fear in 4‐12‐year‐old children in a dental setting

“…Less is known about the relationship between gagging and dental fear in children. In a school‐based setting, 8‐ and 14‐year‐old children who rated themselves as more likely to gag while undergoing dental treatment also rated themselves as more dentally fearful . In this sample, 6% of the children gagged during an objective measurement of gagging .…”

“…Total scores can range from 4 to 20; higher scores reflect greater inclinations to gag . The Greek version of GAS has demonstrated good internal reliability and criterion validity in children …”

“…A well‐calibrated examiner/paediatric dentist (MK), blind to the children's questionnaire scores, examined all children before the dentist who was going to treat the child entered the operatory. The GPA‐de‐c/SF examination was carried out with the child in a sitting position, and with the use of a dental mirror . The examination consisted of placing the dental mirror at 6 anatomical sites in the child's mouth and noting if the patient gagged or not.…”

“…Yet, there is a small category of hypersensitive dental patients whose gagging is severe enough to interfere with treatment . The prevalence of gagging has been found to range from 6% in children and adolescents up to 49% in adults …”

“…Several studies of adults report that patients who gag have higher dental fear and anxiety, although one study found no relationship between dental anxiety and gagging . Gagging also occurs in children . However, little is known about gagging in children in the dental setting.…”