A qualitative study on maternal anxiety over pediatric dental treatment during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: Implications for future pandemics
Dini Setyowati(1*), Richard Kevin Santoso(2), Nurul Naswaa Kamila(3), Aqilah Dhiya Ulhaq(4)
(1) Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
(2) Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
(3) Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
(4) Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has introduced new impediments to delivering and accessing dental care. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic experience, research into anticipatory measures for pediatric dental care is necessary to prepare for future pandemics or other public health events. This study sought to explore factors influencing mothers’ anxiety over taking their children to the dentist during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted an explorative qualitative study with social cognitive theory (SCT) as its theoretical framework. In-depth interviews with mothers of children aged 6–12 years in five areas in Surabaya were selected as the method for answering the qualitative inquiries. To improve transparency, we employed a 32-item consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist. Thematic data analysis revealed three primary cross-cutting themes: internal (personal) factors, external (socio-environmental) factors, and interaction between internal factors and external factors. Based on the interviews, five internal factor sub-themes impacting maternal anxiety over child dental treatment emerged: knowledge, self-efficacy, risk perception, trust in a dentist, and experiences with a child’s dental visit. Moreover, three external factor sub-themes were noted: public transportation, bulk COVID-19 information, and costs. Findings revealed that internal and external factors interacted with each other and influenced maternal anxiety over pediatric dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study benefits public health by contributing to the development of strategies and policies for dental health services under unforeseen health crises.
Keywords
Full Text:
2. Dini SetyowatiReferences
1. Assegaf F. Ministry targets 12-year-olds to be free of caries by 2030. 2023. ANTARA
Indonesian New Agency. https://en.antaranews.com/news/189477/ministry-targets-12-yearolds-to-be-free-of-caries-by-2030.
2. Hasan F, Yuliana LT, Budi HS, Ramasamy R, Ambiya ZI, Ghaisani AM. Prevalence of
dental caries among children in Indonesia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of
observational studies. Heliyon. 2024; 10(11): e32102. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32102
3. Izzetti R, Nisi M, Gabriele M, Graziani F. COVID-19 transmission in dental practice:
Brief review of preventive measures in Italy. J Dent Res. 2020; 99(9): 1030-1038.
doi:10.1177/0022034520920580
4. Hartig M, Stephens C, Foster A, Fontes D, Kinzel M, García-Godoy F. Stopping the
COVID-19 pandemic in dental offices: A review of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and
cross-infection prevention. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2021; 246(22): 2381-2390.
doi: 10.1177/15353702211034164
5. D’Amico C, Bocchieri S, Stefano RD, Gorassini F, Surace G, Amoroso G, et al. Dental office
prevention of Coronavirus infection. Eur J Dent. 2020; 14 (S1): S146-S151.
doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1715923
6. Gurzawska-Comis K, Becker K, Brunello G, Gurzawska A, Schwarz F. Recommendations
for dental care during Covid-19 pandemic. J Clin Med. 2020; 9(6): 1833-1848.
doi: 10.3390/jcm9061833
7. Cagetti MG, Balian A, Camoni N, Campus G. Influence of the Covid-19 pandemic on dental
emergency admissions in an urgent dental care service in North Italy. Int J Environ Res
Public Health. 2021; 18(4): 1812-1822. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041812
8. Banakar M, Lankarani KB, Jafarpour D, Moayedi S, Banakar MH, Sadeghi AM. COVID-19 transmission risk and protective protocols in dentistry: A systematic review. BMC Oral Health. 2020; 20(1): 275. doi: 10.1186/s12903-020-01270-9
9. Matsuyama Y, Isumi A, Doi A, Fujiwara T. Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic exposure
on child dental caries: difference-in-differences analysis. Caries Res. 2022; 56(5-6): 546-554.
doi: 10.1159/000528006
10. Ko LK, Turner-McGrievy GM, Campbell MK. Information processing versus social
cognitive mediators of weight loss in a podcast- delivered health intervention. Health
Educ Behav. 2014; 41(2): 197-206. doi: 10.1177/1090198113504413
11. Creswell JW. Qualitative inquiry & research design: choosing among five approaches, 3rd
ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications; 2013.
12. Liamputtong P. Qualitative research methods, 4th ed. Melbourne: OUP Australia and New
Zealand; 2013.
13. Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006; 3(2):
77-101. doi: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
14. Patton M. Qualitative research and evaluation methods, 4th ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage
Publications; 2015.
15. Burnett H, Olsen JR, Nicholls N, Mitchell R. Change in time spent visiting and experiences
of green space following restrictions on movement during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationally representative cross-sectional study of UK adults. BMJ Open. 2021; 11(3): e044067. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044067
16. Lyu W, Wehby GL. Effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on children’s oral health and oral
health care use. J Am Dent Assoc. 2022; 153(8): 787–796. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2022.02.008
17. Funke J. How Much Knowledge Is Necessary for Action?. In: Peter M, Benno W, Laura
S. Knowledge and action. Cham: Springer Nature; 2017. 99-111.
18. Pasiga BD. Relationship knowledge transmission of Covid-19 and fear of dental care during pandemic in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Pesqui Bras Odontopediatria Clín Integr. 2021; 21: 21: e0148. doi: 10.1590/pboci.2021.017
19. Chen R, Yan H. Effects of knowledge anxiety and cognitive processing bias on brand
avoidance during covid-19: the mediating role of attachment anxiety and herd mentality.
Sustainability. 2023; 15(8): 6978. doi: 10.3390/su15086978
20. Mills N, Pajares, F, Herron C. A reevaluation of the role of anxiety: self-efficacy, anxiety, and
their relation to reading and listening proficiency. Foreign Language Annals. 2006; 39(2): 276-
293. doi: 10.1111/j.1944-9720.2006.tb02266.x
21. Šrol J, Mikušková EB, Čavojová V. When we are worried, what are we thinking? anxiety,
lack of control, and conspiracy beliefs amidst the Covid‐19 pandemic. Appl Cogn Psychol.
2021; 35(3): 720-729. doi: 10.1002/acp.3798
22. Binigha M, Balasubramaniam A. Mother’s knowledge, attitude and fear about dental visit
during Covid-19 pandemic. Nat Volatiles & Essent. Oils. 2021; 8(5): 6149 – 6160.
23. Aldahlawi SA, Afifi IK. COVID-19 in dental practice: Transmission risk, infection control
challenge, and clinical implications. The Open Dentistry Journal. 2020; 14: 348-354.
doi: 10.2174/1874210602014010348
24. Majeed MM, Sidiqqui Z, Uzair M, Shahzad A, Rafique S, Durrani S. Fear and perception
of people to visit dentists during Covid-19 pandemic and their suggestions. Eur J Gen
Dent. 2021; 10: 129–134. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1736377
25. Bandura A. Guide for constructing self-efficacy scales. In Pajares F, Urdan T. Self-efficacy
beliefs of adolescents, 5th ed. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing; 2006. 307-337.
26. Trisnaningati ZR. Meta-analysis of selfefficacy and anxiety correlation. Budapest
International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal). 2021; 4(3): 6727-6732. doi: 10.33258/birci.v4i3.2491
27. Schaefer KJ, Tuitjer L, Levin-Keitel M. Transport disrupted – substituting public transport by bike or car under Covid 19. Transp Res Part A Policy Pract. 2021; 153: 202-217. doi: 10.1016/j.tra.2021.09.002
28. Taubman-Ben-Ari O, Chasson M, Sharkia SA, Weiss E. Distress and anxiety associated with
COVID-19 among Jewish and Arab pregnant women in Israel. J Repord Infant Psychol.
2020; 38(3): 340-348. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2020.1786037
29. Joint Research Centre. Misinformation on COVID-19: what did we learn?. EU Science
Hub. European Comission. 2023. https://jointresearch-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-andupdates/misinformation-covid-19-what-didwe-learn-2023-02-21_en.
30. González-Olmo MJ, Delgado-Ramos B, Ortega-Martínez AR, Romero-Maroto M, Carrillo-Díaz M. Fear of COVID-19 in Madrid. Will patients avoid dental care?. International Dental Journal. 2022; 72(1): 76-82. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2021.01.013
31. Abdulkareem AA, Abdulbaqi HR, Alshami ML, Al-Rawi NH. Oral health awareness, attitude
towards dental treatment, fear of infection and economic impact during Covid-19 pandemic
in the Middle East. Int J Dent Hyg. 2021; 19(3): 295-304. doi: 10.1111/idh.12502
32. Bandura, A. Social cognitive theory of personality. In Pervin LA, John OP. Handbook
of personality: Theory and research, 2nd ed. New York: Guilford Press; 1999. 154–196.
33. Utami W, Nurlaila, Iswati N. The relationship of knowledge of the Covid and prevention
protocol in students of SDIT Al-Madinah to compliance with the Covid and prevention
protocol. Journal of Nursing Practice. 2021; 5(1): 89-93. doi: 10.30994/jnp.v5i1.155
34. Liao C-H. Exploring the influence of public perception of mass media usage and attitudes
towards mass media news on altruistic behavior. Behavioral Sciences. 2023; 13(8):
621-643. doi: 10.3390/bs13080621.
35. Khan MN, Ashraf MA, Seinen D, Khan KU, Laar RA. Social media for knowledge acquisition and dissemination: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on collaborative learning driven social media adoption. Front Psychol. 2021; 12: 648253. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.648253
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/majkedgiind.98536
Article Metrics
Abstract views : 1607 | views : 415Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2024 Majalah Kedokteran Gigi Indonesia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.