%0 Journal Article
%T A software-based observational coding approach for evaluating paediatric dental pain, anxiety, and fear.
%A Bocklage C
%A Selden R
%A Tumsuden O
%A Nanney E
%A Sawicki C
%A Rapolla A
%A Cass K
%A Lee J
%A Ginnis J
%A Strauman T
%A Graves C
%A Divaris K
%A Hodges E
%A Jacox LA
%J Int J Paediatr Dent
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Jul 12
%M 39001562
%F 3.264
%R 10.1111/ipd.13227
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Dental practitioners desire non-pharmacological methods to alleviate anxiety, fear, and pain in children receiving dental care; high-quality evidence, however, is required to evaluate methods' efficacy.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>This study aimed to develop and validate an observation-based coding approach (paediatric dental pain, anxiety, and fear coding approach [PAFCA]) to evaluate non-pharmacological behavior management techniques for anxiety, fear, and pain.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Objective (video-based) and subjective (self-reported) anxiety, fear, and pain data were collected from a pilot clinical trial evaluating animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in paediatric dentistry, in which 37 children aged 7-14 were assigned to AAT or control before dental treatment (restorations or extractions). A coding approach utilizing a codebook, a gold standard calibration video, and a user training guide was developed. Trained examiners coded the gold standard video for inter-rater agreement, and masked, calibrated examiners analyzed videos using the Noldus Observer XT software.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>A novel, software-based coding approach was developed, with moderately high inter-rater agreement. Using PAFCA, we found children reporting higher levels of pain, fear, and anxiety exhibited treatment-interfering behaviors, including crying/moaning, attempts to dislodge instruments, and more upper and lower body movements.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>PAFCA shows promise as a reliable tool for assessing anxiety, pain, and fear in behavioral research for paediatric dentistry.