Assessment of Parental Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions towards Conscious Sedation: A Quasi-experimental Study

Abstract

Introduction: Dental anxiety is a common problem among children, leading to missed dental appointments and neglect of oral health. Conscious sedation is a technique used in dental clinics to alleviate anxiety and enhance the patient’s experience. However, parents often lack understanding about conscious sedation, which can hinder their consent for the procedure for their child. Aim: To assess parents’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards conscious sedation in dental care settings. Materials and Methods: This study employed a pre-test/posttest quasi-experimental design and involved 400 parents (aged 21-40 years) whose children, aged 3 to 16 years, were randomly selected to complete a questionnaire survey at the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry at Rajarajeswari Dental College and Hospital in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. The survey was conducted between December 2022 and March 2023, spanning a period of four months. Data collection methods included a pre-education questionnaire and a posteducation questionnaire after an educational intervention. The collected data underwent statistical analysis, utilising mean, Standard Deviation (SD), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Wilcoxon's signed rank, and Tukey’s posthoc tests. Results: Prior to education, 393 (98.25%) of the study population were unaware that conscious sedation was safe and easy. It was observed that 368 (92%) of the participants opposed conscious sedation for their child, but following education, 400 (100%) agreed, resulting in a 95.2% shift in perception. Conclusion: The study revealed that, before the intervention, the majority of parents were unaware of and opposed to conscious sedation, indicating a significant knowledge gap. However, the implementation of educational interventions during dental visits, led by dentists, played a crucial role in improving their knowledge and significantly changing their attitude, with 400 (100%) agreeing to the use of conscious sedation.