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Biomedical subjects

G ter Horst

Publications and source records attributed to G ter Horst.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Quality of dental care: the view of regular attenders.

Patients' perceptions play an important role in assessing the quality of dental treatment. This study investigated 56 possible quality aspects on their importance as judged by regular attenders. A nationwide sample of 5000 Dutch people was contracted, 1328 persons meeting our selection criteria filled out the questionnaire and responded. The results show that hygiene of instruments and the availability of the dentist in case of emergency were considered the most important. It was concluded that in general these patients judged technical and functional aspects of dental care to be of more importance than communicative and informative aspects. Differences in perceptions were found according to sex and, to a lesser extent, to education, means of insurance and place of residence. But, on the whole, response patterns were homogeneous.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Differences in dental treatment plan and planning for drug-addicted and non-drug-addicted patients.

This study investigated whether dental treatment plans and planning of general practitioners are different for addicted and identical non-addicted patients. Dental practitioners (n = 500) were sent a questionnaire with information on and questions about treatment for either an addicted or an identical non-addicted patient; response rate was 41 %. Loglinear analysis showed that after controlling for the influence of four demographic variables (sex, age number of patients and number of National Health Service insured patients), the treatment plans made for addicted patients were less elaborate than those for non-addicted. For the addicted, fillings or frames were proposed more often, whereas for non-addicted patients more often crowns or bridges were proposed. Extraction instead of filling was more often proposed for the addicted patient. Less elaborate treatment for addicted patients corresponds to the way dentists specialized in treating drug addicts work, with one exception: extraction should be avoided whether a patient is addicted or not. Treatment planning did not differentiate for addicted and non-addicted patients, whereas dentists specialized in treating addicted patients do recommend an adjusted treatment plan for the addicted.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Treatment for dental anxiety. Evaluation of treatment of patients with anxiety].

This article presents the results of a study among 332 extremely anxious persons who applied for treatment at SBT, a Dutch special dental care clinic, between July 1990 and December 1991. It was found that 85% of these persons actually started treatment. Two and a half years later it appeared that 39% of them still received regular treatment, whereas 34% had completed treatment. Twelve percent stopped visiting before treatment was completed. Furthermore, results showed that dental anxiety was reduced after treatment. However, 36% of the patients still avoided appointments with a dentist. It is concluded that for most of the dentally anxious patients specialized care and oral health are no guarantee for regular dental attendance in the long term.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Negative cognitions of dental phobics: reliability and validity of the dental cognitions questionnaire.

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Dental Cognitions Questionnaire (DCQ). This measure contains 38 items and assesses both frequency and believability of negative cognitions related to dental treatment. The results indicated that the DCQ has good internal consistency, high test-retest reliability, and satisfactory concurrent validity, as indicated by positive associations with indices of anxiety and other cognitive measures (n = 180). Factor analysis revealed a one factor solution. Furthermore, the DCQ discriminated strongly between dental phobics (n = 85) and non-phobic Ss (n = 70). Moreover, it was found that combinations of DCQ items have substantially more explanatory power than did a measure of dental trait anxiety, explaining up to 70.7% of the variance in state anxiety ratings in the dental situation. Overall, it appears that dental phobics have many extremely negative beliefs and self-statements about themselves and about what might happen during treatment. Since certain cognitions seem to play a critical role in fear evocation, diminishing catastrophizing ideation may be an important determinant of adjustment to dental treatment and reduction of psychological distress.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Acquisition and maintenance of dental anxiety: the role of conditioning experiences and cognitive factors.

This study presents a contribution to the understanding of the mechanisms that are involved in the development and maintenance of dental anxiety. Subjects were 224 undergraduate psychology students who completed questionnaires regarding dental anxiety, painful and traumatic experiences, negative cognitions, dental beliefs, and how their attitude to dental treatment had changed during their life. The results showed that both the extent to which earlier dental treatments were perceived as painful and the extent to which these incidents were reported as traumatic were significantly related to dental anxiety. Evidence was also found to support the latent inhibition hypothesis, which predicts that patients less easily acquire dental anxiety in case they received a number of relatively painless treatments prior to conditioning. Both findings confirmed those earlier obtained by Davey in a conceptually similar design (Behaviour Research and Therapy, 27, 51-58, 1989). In addition, frequency of negative cognitions about dental treatment and dental anxiety appeared to be positively related (r = 0.74; P < 0.001). Significant differences were found between highly anxious Ss and Ss showing low levels of anxiety on a variety of expectations and beliefs related to undergoing dental treatment. The results are discussed in terms of a cognitive-behavioural perspective of dental anxiety.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

One-session cognitive treatment of dental phobia: preparing dental phobics for treatment by restructuring negative cognitions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a single session of cognitive restructuring in a sample of phobic dental patients. Fifty-two patients were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: cognitive restructuring (modification of negative cognitions), provision of information (about oral health and dental treatment), and a waiting list control condition. Both interventions maximally lasted one hour. In comparison with the waiting list control condition and the information intervention condition, the cognitive intervention condition not only showed a large decrease in frequency and believability of negative cognitions, but also exhibited a clear decline in dental trait anxiety. Analysis at a follow-up of one year demonstrated a further, drastic reduction in dental anxiety in both intervention conditions, wherein the difference among these conditions was not maintained. It is concluded that it is possible to obtain substantial reductions of dental trait anxiety through a single session of cognitive restructuring. Nevertheless, repeated exposure to the dental situation seems necessary for a further reduction of anxiety.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Dutch students' dental anxiety and occurrence of thoughts related to treatment.

The present study was intended to explore the relationship between individuals' level of dental anxiety and thoughts (both self-statements and mental images) related to dental treatment. Subjects were 210 psychology students (75 males, 135 females). The results showed that 98% of the subjects reported one or more negative or catastrophic thoughts. A significant positive relationship was found between reported severity of anxiety (S-DAI scores) and frequency of thoughts. The results indicate that dental anxiety is associated with the tendency to experience negative or threatening thoughts concerning treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Dental health in drug and alcohol addicts].

The aim of this study was to describe the dental health status of a group of Dutch twenty- to forty-year-old drug addicts (n = 121) and to compare the results on DMFS with data of an in age comparable sample of the general non-addicted adult population in the Netherlands (n = 1532). The average DMFT of the addicted group was 16.9. The average DMFS of this group differed statistically significantly from the DMFS of the general non-addicted population of the same age (52.1 versus 38.9). Statistically significant differences in DMFS were also found between the various age groups. In the youngest three age groups the percentage of addicted subjects with cervical plaque on one or more teeth was 76.5%, 82.4% and 88.2%. Bleeding of the gingiva occurred in almost all addicted subjects. Only 36% of the addicts had visited their dentist less than a year ago and 18% of them brushed their teeth less than once a day. It is concluded that a large gap exists in dental health status and behaviour between drug addicts and the general non-addicted population. Dental care as an integral part of the care for drug addicts is advocated.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Cognitive correlates of dental anxiety.

This study examined cognitive correlates of dental anxiety among 24 highly anxious patients and 17 low-anxious patients. In both groups, anxiety expectations, dental trait anxiety, and state anxiety (in the waiting room and in the dental chair) were rated. Negative cognitions and cognitive control were also assessed. It was found that dentally high-anxious patients claimed to experience more negative thoughts than those with low anxiety (p < 0.001). None of the highly anxious patients reported relatively few negative cognitions, and none of the patients in the low-anxiety group reported relatively numerous negative cognitions. While patients from both groups reported that cognitive control declined with the imminence of treatment, highly anxious patients were found to have less control over their negative thoughts (p < 0.001). A series of stepwise regression analyses revealed that both the number of negative cognitions and perceived cognitive control accounted for 75% of the variance in dental trait anxiety. The results of the present study suggest that cognitive activities, such as negative thinking (catastrophizing) and cognitive control, are important moderators of dental anxiety.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Dental referral of drug addicts].

Reasons for drug addicts' non-compliance to dental referral were investigated. Sixty-eight out of 83 addicts referred to the dentist were interviewed. Eighty-one percent intended to go, but only 42% did show up for their first appointment. Mean dental anxiety score (SDAI) was 23.6. An active referral of a non-anxious patient who visited the dentist in the past if in pain appeared least likely to fail. Dental care as an integral part of care for drug addicts is advocated.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

AIDS and infection control: Dutch dental hygienists surveyed.

A sample of all dental hygienists practicing in the Netherlands besides Amsterdam (n = 669) and all dental hygienists practicing in Amsterdam (n = 118) were sent a questionnaire to assess the extent of compliance with the Dutch Health Council's guidelines to prevent HIV transmission in dental practices. The response rate was 64%, Gloves, masks and spectacles were widely used. Use of disposable parts of the three-way syringes, medical dishwasher, sterilizable handles and sterilizable three-way syringes was insufficient. Disinfection was too often preferred to sterilization. Compliance with the guidelines was not related to the size of the city of practice. Amsterdam hygienists did not comply better than hygienists not from Amsterdam. One third of the respondents asked questions to assess whether a patient was HIV seropositive. Evidently, the view of the Dutch Health Council that knowledge of seropositivity is not necessary, was not shared by a substantial part of the hygienists. Fear of infection appeared to be negatively related to experience in treating HIV-seropositive patients and, indirectly, to perceived knowledge about AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

What do anxious patients think? An exploratory investigation of anxious dental patients' thoughts.

According to BECK's cognitive model of emotional disorders (1976) anxiety is associated with negative and threatening thoughts concerning the likelihood of personal danger. In the present study the content of thoughts of 32 anxious dental patients was investigated. Patients' mean score for the Dental Anxiety Scale was 17.1 (SD = 2.0). The average time period patients had not visited a dentist was 9.1 yr (SD = 8.7). Using semi-structured interviews 132 thoughts were explored. The mean number of thoughts reported per patient was 4.1 (SD = 1.6). Almost all patients reported thoughts in some way related to their fear. All patients except one reported self-verbalizations of a negative or catastrophizing nature. Nine different categories of the content of the thoughts were identified. Nine percent of the thoughts consisted of visual images. The largest category (23%) consisted of catastrophic thoughts about the patient's own functioning during dental treatment, e.g., thoughts about losing control, panicking and dying. Fifty-nine percent of the patients reported thoughts of this type. The findings provide support for BECK's cognitive model of emotional disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Caries in children from ethnic groups. An investigation in five-year-old children in Amsterdam and their parents concerning risk indicators and factors].

A previous study has shown five-year-old children of parents originating from Turkey or Morocco to have twice as much dmfs as children of parents from The Netherlands, Surinam or various other countries. In the present study, other risk indicators and factors for the prevalence of caries amongst these children were studied by interviewing their parents at home in their mother tongue about their preventive dental behaviour. Results showed educational level of the parents, and gender of the child to be important risk indicators, apart from ethnicity. Risk factors were the age of the child, at which the parents had started to brush the teeth of the child, the use of fluoride tablets and the regularity of the brushing behaviour.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Child abuse and dentists].

A questionnaire on the recognition and reporting of child abuse was sent to a random sample of Dutch dental practitioners (N = 250). The response rate was 54%. Eighty-six percent had never seen a case of child abuse. The percentage of dentists reporting a (suspicious) case of child abuse (6%) was lower than the percentage of dentists detecting a case of suspicious child abuse (14%). The most important reason for this discrepancy seems to be a lack of knowledge and/or skills to properly identify child abuse. More professional education about child abuse is desired.

Child↗
PubMed1993

Review of behavioural research in dentistry 1987-1992: dental anxiety, dentist-patient relationship, compliance and dental attendance.

A review is presented of the behavioural research in dentistry published in or after 1987 on dental anxiety, dentist-patient relationship, compliance and dental attendance. It is concluded that little progress has been made in the field of behavioural dentistry during those years and recommendations are made to improve future research efforts.

Dental Anxiety↗
PubMed1992

Risk indicators and potential risk factors for caries in 5-year-olds of different ethnic groups in Amsterdam.

The aim of this study was threefold: first, to assess the oral health of Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese, Dutch and "other" 5-yr-old children living in Amsterdam; second, to identify risk indicators for caries, in addition to ethnicity; and third, to identify potential risk factors related to differences in caries experience in these children. Results showed the mean dmfs scores of Turkish and Moroccan children to be much higher than that of the Dutch and Surinamese children; 8.1 and 8.2 versus 3.6 and 3.4, respectively. The educational level of the parents and the gender of the children were important risk indicators, in addition to ethnicity. The age of the child at which the parents had started to brush their child's teeth, the use of fluoride tablets and the regularity of the brushing behavior in the past could be identified as potential risk factors.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1992

[Dentists' opinions of their dental education; results of a survey of dentists who studied in Amsterdam between the years 1982-1990].

Four hundred and fifty dental graduates from the Free University (VU), the University of Amsterdam (UvA) or the Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA) between 1982 and 1990 were asked by questionnaire to give their opinion about the undergraduate dental training they received. Most respondents felt that their undergraduate education prepared them reasonably well for general practice. Yet imperfections in the education were noticed. These imperfections show resemblance to conclusions from similar surveys in other countries.

Adult↗