Service evaluation of a nurse-led dental anxiety management service for adult patients

Objective Evaluate patients' and professionals' experiences of a nurse-led dental anxiety management service (NDAMS).

Design Service evaluation.

Setting The NDAMS operates as part of the Sheffield Salaried Primary Dental Care Service.

Subjects and methods Questionnaire survey of anxious patients and qualitative interviews with patients and professionals.

Interventions Dental nurses delivered low-level psychological interventions as part of an integrated care pathway (ICP) for dental anxiety.

Main outcome measures Dental anxiety and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) questionnaires were completed by patients before and following NDAM.

Results A total of 187 patients were assessed as suitable for NDAM (mean age = 33.7, 77% female) and 33 had completed it at the time of the service evaluation. Of those patients who had completed the intervention, significant improvements in dental anxiety and OHRQoL were reported. Professionals highlighted the importance of integrated working, adequate support and training, and assessing the suitability of patients for NDAM.

Conclusion ICPs that combine pharmacological and psychological management approaches can help meet the needs of dentally anxious patients; however, early identification of patients most likely to benefit from psychological intervention should be a priority.