• Users Online: 399
  • Home
  • Print this page
  • Email this page
Home About us Editorial board Ahead of print Current issue Search Archives Submit article Instructions Subscribe Contacts Login 


 
 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2016  |  Volume : 1  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 49-51

Children's perception towards pediatric dentist attire: An observation study


Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Date of Web Publication22-Dec-2016

Correspondence Address:
Dhanalakshmi Ravikumar
22, Abdul Marakayar Street, Redhills, Chennai - 600 052, Tamil Nadu
India
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/2468-8932.196479

Rights and Permissions
  Abstract 

Background: Studies have shown that children have preference tpwards dentist attire and this can influence their behaviour in dental setup. Aim: The present observational study was done to determine the children's preference and their perception toward pediatric dentist attire. Materials and Methods: A personal interview was done by a single, qualified pediatric dentist among 450 school children after obtaining approval from the school administrator and child's parents. Children aged between 6 and 12 years were participated in this interview. Results: Based on the response, it was observed that most of the children preferred their pediatric dentist to wear white coat and colored scrubs. Children were highly anxious on seeing their dentist with protective wear. Conclusion: This can be utilized to improve the friendly relationship between the child and pediatric dentist.

Keywords: Dentist attire, scrubs, white coat


How to cite this article:
Ravikumar D, Gurunathan D, Karthikeyan S. Children's perception towards pediatric dentist attire: An observation study. Int J Pedod Rehabil 2016;1:49-51

How to cite this URL:
Ravikumar D, Gurunathan D, Karthikeyan S. Children's perception towards pediatric dentist attire: An observation study. Int J Pedod Rehabil [serial online] 2016 [cited 2024 Mar 28];1:49-51. Available from: https://www.ijpedor.org/text.asp?2016/1/2/49/196479


  Introduction Top


Since the time of Hippocrates, the physicians were advised to be well-dressed and clean. [1] The importance of a person outlook was also highlighted by Psychologists to develop a positive interpersonal relationship. [2] There continues to be a debate regarding dentists' attire and the choice of a white coat, suit, or scrubs influences patient's view of dentist. Several studies were published regarding children preference toward dentist attire. [3],[4],[5],[6],[7],[8],[9],[10] However, all the studies give an overall view on children's preference level toward white coat, scrubs, formal attire, or a child-friendly attire. It is important to understand the reasons behind their preference for particular attire and it should be on their own views and to their level of understanding. As Jean Piaget had stated that, as the age advances the child way of thinking process becomes more logical and understands others perspective. [11] Hence, the present observational study was done to assess the children's preference for a particular attire and the reasons behind their likes or dislikes for the same.


  Materials and Methods Top


An interview was done by a single, qualified pediatric dentist among school children after obtaining concern from the school administrator and child's parents. Four hundred and fifty children aged between 6 and 12 years were participated in this interview. A series of photographs were shown to children with dentist in different attire. The attire includes white coat, colored scrubs, and formal attire, with and without protective wears such as protective glasses and mask. As the children indicate a preference or dislike for a particular attire, followed by, each child was given a chance to justify their reasons for their likes and dislikes.


  Results Top


Demographic data included 450 children, 232 boys, and 218 girls. Preference level of children towards different attire is depicted in [Figure 1]. Out of 450 children, 42.6% of children preferred white coat, 41.3% of children preferred colored scrubs and 16% children preferred formal attire. Anxious level toward protective wear is shown in [Figure 2]. Among 450 respondents, 342 children were anxious on seeing their dentist with protective wear and only 108 children were not anxious and preferred protective wear.
Figure 1: Preference level of children toward different attire

Click here to view
Figure 2: Anxiety toward protective wear

Click here to view



  Discussion Top


The present observational study was conducted to determine the preference of children toward pediatric dentist attire and to explore the reasons for their preference toward particular attire. In the current study, 42.6% of children preferred their dentist to wear white coat. The reasons behind their preference towards white coat includes, color, symbol of healing, looks professional, increase their confidence level and interestingly, they believe and trust that doctors or dentist will wear white coat. This result is in agreement with the study done by Alsarheed et al., who had stated that white coat was considered as a symbol of healing. [4] The reasons for their dislike includes, fear of bodily injury, contamination of white coat, stains, or dirts will be easily seen. The children who preferred colored scrubs listed reasons for their preference such as, child friendly attire, bright color, attractive, looks simple and not threatening and children who did not preferred colored surgical scrubs gave explanations which includes, scrubs does not indicate them as doctors/dentist and gives an impression that they are not well-trained when compared to dentist in white coat and gives a scary feeling that they are going to operate. The suggestions of their dislike were similar to the study done by Kamavaram Ellore et al. The author had concluded that surgical scrubs remained as least preferred attire for the children and their parents in his study. [5] The least preferred attire was formal attire and their reasons for their likes includes, looks very normal and casual and not scary, and their reasons for dislike states that it is not exhibiting a level of professionalism.

Most of the children had stated that they were very anxious to see their dentist with protective wear. Few children preferred their dentist to wear protective wear and explained the importance of protective wear in the prevention of transmission of infectious disease.

Yet there is a mixed response from children regarding their preference towards dentist attire, but it is very clear that, though in the developing country fashion plays an influential role, but our children are still the same, preferring their dentist to wear a traditional formal white coat or a colored surgical scrubs. It is worth to mention that, most of the children were able to justify their thoughts and able to understand others perspective, i.e., understands the importance of protective wear, clearly justified Jean Piaget's theory statement of increasing level of understanding and maturational level among children as their age advances.


  Conclusion Top


Most of the children preferred their pediatric dentist to wear white coat or colored surgical scrubs without protective wear. This can be utilized to improve the friendly relationship between the child and pediatric dentist.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

1.
Jones WH. Hippocrates. Vol. 2. Boston, MA: Harvard University Press; 1923.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Berscheid E, Gangestad S. The social psychological implications of facial physical attractiveness. Clin Plast Surg 1982;9:289-96.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Mistry D, Tahmassebi JF. Children's and parents' attitudes towards dentists' attire. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 2009;10:237-40.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Alsarheed M. Children's perception of their dentists. Eur J Dent 2011;5:186-90.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Kamavaram Ellore VP, Mohammed M, Taranath M, Ramagoni NK, Kumar V, Gunjalli G. Children and parent's attitude and preferences of dentist's attire in pediatric dental practice. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2015;8:102-7.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Kuscu OO, Caglar E, Kayabasoglu N, Sandalli N. Short communication: Preferences of dentist's attire in a group of Istanbul school children related with dental anxiety. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 2009;10:38-41.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Cohen SD. Children's attitudes toward dentists attire. ASDC J Dent Child 1973;40:285-7.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Patir Münevveroglu A, Balli Akgöl B, Erol T. Assessment of the feelings and attitudes of children towards Their dentist and their association with oral health. ISRN Dent 2014;2014:867234.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Brosky ME, Keefer OA, Hodges JS, Pesun IJ, Cook G. Patient perceptions of professionalism in dentistry. J Dent Educ 2003;67:909-15.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Panda A, Garg I, Bhobe AP. Children's perspective on the dentist's attire. Int J Paediatr Dent 2014;24:98-103.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.
Piaget J. Cognitive development in children: Piaget development and learning. J Res Sci Teach 1964;2:176-86.  Back to cited text no. 11
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2]


This article has been cited by
1 Assessment of Choice and Anxiety toward Different Dentist’s Attires among 5–12-Year-Old Children in Dental Operatory
Vaishnavi Singh, Pallavi Vashisth, Sathyajith Naik, Shivangi Sharma
Indian Journal of Dental Sciences. 2023; 15(4): 180
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
2 Child Dental Patient\'s Anxiety and Preference for Dentist\'s Attire: A Cross-sectional Study
Latha Anandakrishna, Sujatha Paranna, Prakashchandra Shetty, Asha Nara, Krishna Patil, Ashwini Avanti
International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry. 2022; 14(S2): S107
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
3 Pediatric dentist attire and relationship with anxiety in children and parents during covid-19 pandemic
Raghavendra Havale, Dhanu G Rao, SP Shrutha, Irin Mathew, Namratha Tharay, Kausar -E- Taj, Kanchan M Tuppadmath
Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences. 2022; 21: e225967
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
4 Oral Health Assessment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Special Schools
Vilas Takate, Anitha Santosh, Adesh Kakade, Sayali Mali, Bhagyashree Deshmukh, Akanksha Juneja
International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry. 2021; 14(4): 548
[Pubmed] | [DOI]



 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
Access Statistics
Email Alert *
Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)

 
  In this article
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Me...
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Article Figures

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed6646    
    Printed634    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded593    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 4    

Recommend this journal


[TAG2]
[TAG3]
[TAG4]