TY - JOUR
T1 - Dental anxiety and empathy among undergraduate oral health students in Norway, South Africa and Namibia
AU - Kimmie-Dhansay, Faheema
AU - Høyvik, Ann Catrin
AU - Bhayat, Ahmed
AU - Hussain, Faezah
AU - Karunakaran, Arannikah
AU - Kaya, Besime
AU - Motloba, Pagollang
AU - Malau, Cathrine
AU - Rutabanzibwa, John
AU - Singh, Shenuka
AU - Wilson, Vivienne
AU - Brusevold, Ingvild Johnsen
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by MJS Publishing on behalf of Acta Odontologica Scandinavica Society.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - Purpose/objectives: Dental anxiety is a common type of fear that can complicate dental treatment. The dental practitioner is crucial in both treating dental fear and anxiety as well as prevent it from arising. The ability to feel empathy is important in that matter. The dental practitioner’s own level of dental anxiety can possibly affect his or her ability to treat patients in an empathetic manner. The aim of this study was to assess and examine the relationship between level of empathy and dental anxiety in undergraduate oral healthcare students from Namibia, South Africa and Norway. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed. Questionnaires were distributed, and responses were analyzed anonymously. Dental anxiety was assessed using Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), and empathy level was assessed using Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ). Data were presented as means or medians and analyzed using a linear regression model in STATA with a 5% level of significance. Results: The response rate was 16.0%, and 298 completed questionnaires were received. MDAS was low in all groups (medians 7–10), however, significantly lower in Norway compared to Namibia and South Africa. The mean TEQ score was 46.8 in Namibia, 47.5 in South Africa and 50.4 in Norway, all above average empathy levels but significantly higher in Norway than in Namibia and South Africa. Conclusions: Oral healthcare students in Africa and Norway showed high empathy and low dental anxiety, which is reassuring for future oral health care professionals.
AB - Purpose/objectives: Dental anxiety is a common type of fear that can complicate dental treatment. The dental practitioner is crucial in both treating dental fear and anxiety as well as prevent it from arising. The ability to feel empathy is important in that matter. The dental practitioner’s own level of dental anxiety can possibly affect his or her ability to treat patients in an empathetic manner. The aim of this study was to assess and examine the relationship between level of empathy and dental anxiety in undergraduate oral healthcare students from Namibia, South Africa and Norway. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed. Questionnaires were distributed, and responses were analyzed anonymously. Dental anxiety was assessed using Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), and empathy level was assessed using Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ). Data were presented as means or medians and analyzed using a linear regression model in STATA with a 5% level of significance. Results: The response rate was 16.0%, and 298 completed questionnaires were received. MDAS was low in all groups (medians 7–10), however, significantly lower in Norway compared to Namibia and South Africa. The mean TEQ score was 46.8 in Namibia, 47.5 in South Africa and 50.4 in Norway, all above average empathy levels but significantly higher in Norway than in Namibia and South Africa. Conclusions: Oral healthcare students in Africa and Norway showed high empathy and low dental anxiety, which is reassuring for future oral health care professionals.
KW - dental anxiety
KW - empathy
KW - oral health students
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105003272705
U2 - 10.2340/aos.v84.43424
DO - 10.2340/aos.v84.43424
M3 - Article
C2 - 40202195
AN - SCOPUS:105003272705
SN - 0001-6357
VL - 84
SP - 174
EP - 181
JO - Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
JF - Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
ER -