Reliability and validity of the Greek version of the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale

• Published in: International journal of paediatric dentistry 2008-09, Vol.18 (5), p.374-379
• Main Authors: ARAPOSTATHIS, KONSTANTINOS N., COOLIDGE, TRILBY, EMMANOUIL, DIMITRIS, KOTSANOS, NIKOLAOS
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child; Child Behavior - psychology; Child, Preschool; Cooperative Behavior; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Dental Anxiety - diagnosis; Dental Anxiety - psychology; Dental Care for Children - psychology; Dentistry; Fear - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Psychological Tests; Self-Assessment; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 0960-7439; 1365-263X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2007.00894.x

Background.  The Children's Fear Survey Schedule–Dental Subscale (CFSS–DS) is a commonly used questionnaire which measures children's dental fear. Objective.  The aim of this study was to gather data to evaluate the psychometric properties of a Greek version of the CFSS–DS. Methods.  A sample of 260 children aged 4–12 completed the Greek version of the CFSS–DS while in the waiting room of a paediatric dentist. The dentist, who was unaware of the children's scores, rated the children's behaviour during the dental appointment using the Frankl scale. Children who returned for a second dental appointment during the study period completed the CFSS–DS a second time. Results.  The mean CFSS–DS score was 24.80 (standard deviation = 9.17). Age and gender were not related to mean scores. Invasiveness of dental treatment was not related to mean scores. Children who were most uncooperative/fearful on the Frankl had the highest mean scores (Kruskal–Wallis χ2 = 9.48; d.f. = 2; P = 0.009). The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was 0.85, and the test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation) was 0.74. Conclusions.  The Greek version of the CFSS–DS appears to be reliable and valid. Further samples should include school samples, to include children who may not go to the dentist.