Evaluating a coping module for children with dental anxiety

The Impact of Dental Anxiety Coping Module on Children with Dental Anxiety: a Randomised Controlled Trial

Not applicable Interventional University of Malaya · NCT06483828

This study is testing if a special program that includes a dental tour and art therapy can help reduce dental anxiety in primary school children before they go to the dentist.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages7 Years to 11 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Malaya Academic / other
Locations1 site (Petaling Jaya, Wp Kuala Lumpur)
Trial IDNCT06483828 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the Dental Anxiety Coping Module (DACM) on reducing dental anxiety in primary school children. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a control group, which will undergo dental procedures without any intervention, or an intervention group that will experience a dental tour followed by expressive art therapy before their dental treatment. The study will measure dental anxiety levels using the MY-ACDAS and HRV-Biofeedback assessments at baseline and after the intervention. The goal is to determine if the DACM can significantly lower anxiety levels compared to the control group.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are Malaysian children aged 7 to 11 years who understand basic Malay and English and exhibit high dental anxiety.

Not a fit: Children requiring emergency dental treatment or those with learning disabilities or cognitive impairments may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce dental anxiety in children, leading to improved dental experiences and outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: While there is limited data on the specific DACM approach, similar interventions combining art therapy and preparatory tours have shown promise in reducing anxiety in pediatric populations.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Malaysian child, age 7 to 11 years old that understand basic Malay and English language.
* Children that fulfil both MY-ACDAS score 26 and above and HRV-Biofeedback of very low coherence score (incoherence).
* Children with American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) I and ASA II classification.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Children requiring emergency treatment such as pain, facial cellulitis, and trauma cases.
* Child with learning disabilities, hearing, or visual impairment, developmental or intellectual disability and cognitive impairment.
* Parents/guardians who refuse to allow their child to participate in this trial.

Where this trial is running

Petaling Jaya, Wp Kuala Lumpur

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Dental Anxiety
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.