How the Child Perceives the Dentist: A Study Using Children’s Drawing

Abstract

This study aimed to verify, using drawings, how children from two municipalities in the state of Paraíba (PB) of different population sizes perceive the dentist and the dental environment and the impact of an intervention with oral health promotion practices in this perception. The sample consisted of 89 students aged from 7 to 12 years, with 40 children from the urban area of the municipality with the largest population (Campina Grande, PB) and 49 children from the rural area, municipality with a smaller population (Queimadas, PB). The interpretation of the drawings was made by two examiners independently following a script. In addition, the Kappa coefficient was applied to verify the level of agreement, and a Kappa value equal to 1 was found. As a general analysis, despite the lack of a significant association at the 5% level, children in the rural area made more drawings that conveyed a negative overall impression when compared with those in the area urban and the perception of the dental situation shown in the drawings did not improve after the health promotion actions. The dentist and the dental environment are mostly seen in a negative way by the children of both locations, without significant differences between the two groups. Thus, this demonstrates the need to understand the real aspect that defines the construction of this view, encouraging care that strengthens the patient-professional bond to demystify the negative image of the professional.

Keywords:
Dentistry; Children; Drawing Analysis