Assessment of Anxiety and Treatment Seeking Behaviour among Adults Attending Dental Out-Patient Department in Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background
Dental anxiety is a significant barrier to accessing regular dental care, frequently leading to delayed treatment and the progression of oral diseases. This study aimed to assess the levels of dental and general anxiety and to evaluate their impact on dental treatment-seeking behavior among adult patients in Nepal.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted From December 2022 and July 2023 among 359 patients aged over 16 years attending the dental outpatient department at Kathmandu Model Hospital. Data was collected using a self-reported proforma that included the validated Nepali translations of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS-N) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).
Results
The mean MDAS score was 11.09, indicating a moderate level of dental anxiety, while the mean BAI score was 26.4. The results showed a statistically significant moderate positive correlation between dental anxiety and general anxiety (ρ = 0.425, p < 0.001). Females exhibited significantly higher levels of both dental and general anxiety compared to males (p < 0.001). Additionally, the duration of delay in seeking treatment was found to be significantly dependent on both dental anxiety (p = 0.006) and general anxiety (p = 0.013).
Conclusions
Moderate dental anxiety is prevalent among dental patients in Nepal and is closely tied to generalized anxiety. This fear disproportionately affects women and directly drives patients to delay necessary care. Integrating brief anxiety screenings into routine dental visits could help practitioners identify and address these psychological barriers.