The family impact of dental general anaesthesia in children: A meta-analysis

Background The health and well-being of children are intimately linked to their parents' physical, emotional, and social health and social circumstances. Aim To conduct a meta-analysis of studies that have used the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) and Child Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (COHRQoL) instruments, to evaluate the family impact scale (FIS) changes following their children's dental treatment under general anaesthesia (DGA). Methodology A systematic search was undertaken using the PRISMA guidelines. The inclusion criteria consisted of patients below 16 years of age, DGA, pre- and post-operative assessments, and the use of ECOHIS and COHRQoL. FIS changes were the primary outcome measure, where the mean difference (MD) was calculated. Results After initial search of 105 studies in the database, twenty-one articles were included in the analysis. A positive outcome in the FIS changes was identified in all studies. The combined MD for FIS using ECOHIS and COHRQoL was 1.52 [95% CI: 1.15-1.89; P I-2=87%] and 1.10 [95% CI: 0.68-1.52; P I-2=79%], respectively. Conclusions Dental treatment with general anaesthesia for children had a significant positive impact on parental emotions, activity, and conflict. Following DGA, there was significant improvement in the FIS, with large MD.