EFFECT OF RECREATIONAL ANIMATION ON ANXIETY LEVELS IN CHILDREN ATTENDING DENTAL TREATMENT

Anxiety to the dental practice is an unpleasant emotion that can affect the quality of treatment. Because of its importance, studies have been conducted using music, storytelling, among others, for the management of anxiety in children generated by the dental treatment. However, so far the use of recreational animation as a strategy to reduce anxiety has not studied. The aim of this research was to analyze the effect of recreational animation on anxiety levels in children attending pediatric dental consultation at the Universidad de Los Andes (ULA), between May and June 2015. An experimental study was conducted with 50 children, who were randomly assigned into two groups (25 children each). Each group was asked an informed consent before being attended. Then, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for children (STAIC) was applied, and values of heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2%) were measured. The experimental group was exposed to the recreational animation before consultation for 20 min., while the control group received no intervention. 5 min before consultation, the STAIC was applied and values of each group values were measured again. It was found statistically significant differences in anxiety levels, HR, BP and SpO2%. The group exposed to recreational animation report lower anxiety level. Therefore, the use of recreational animation as a complementary tool to reduce anxiety levels in children attending the dental practice is suggested.