Semester
Summer
Date of Graduation
2005
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
Daniel W. McNeil.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the degree to which oral health values affect attendance patterns in a group of West Virginia patients with high dental fear. Participants were selected from 585 patients who presented to an oral diagnosis clinic at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry for either emergency services or to be screened for regular patient status. Participants completed a battery of self-report instruments. Those who were identified as having high dental fear (i.e., were in the top 50% of a same-sex distribution on the Dental Fear Survey) were contacted by telephone approximately one year later to complete measures of oral health values. Attendance over the past year was assessed through self-report and the patients' dental charts. The high dental fear patients who presented for screening appointments reported greater value associated with oral health, and attended significantly more often for dental appointments than the equally fearful patients who presented for emergency care.
Recommended Citation
Lawrence, Suzanne M., "Dental values as a factor affecting attendance among patients with high dental fear" (2005). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 2203.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/2203