Table 1 Paediatric Dental Triadic Interaction Coding Scheme
Behaviour | Operational definition |
|---|---|
Adult behaviour: | |
Dental Professional (DP), Parent | |
Social talk | DP/Parent’s non-dentally related talk |
Information giving | DP/Parent gives oral health/procedure related information. |
Information seeking (Questioning) | DP/Parent asks for oral health/procedure related information. |
Joke/Humour | DP makes joke/humour on the child that may include a laughter |
Child name | DP/parent calls child by name. |
Pet name | DP/parent calls child an endearing name |
Distraction | DP/parent distracts the child by referring to a toy/painting etc. |
Praise | DP/parent makes positive comment on child’s behaviour or attitude |
Reassurance | DP/parent describes ease and pleasantness of treatment. |
Positive consequence | DP/parent informs child of positive outcome of treatment |
Negative consequence | DP/parent informs child of negative/lack of positive outcome if no treatment. |
Relate experience | DP relates child’s previous dental experience to the present procedure. |
Instruction | DP gives the child instruction to carry out an action |
Permission seeking | DP consults child for their consent to carry out an action |
Request | DP asks child to carry out an action |
Dentally engaging talk | Any talks DP uses to get child engaged in the oral health related talk/treatment |
Tell-show-do talk | DP uses tell-show-do technique to instruct child to carry out an action. |
Reward | DP promises/gives child a reward, often dependent on behaviour. |
Offer for questions | DP offers parent to raise any questions/concerns about child oral health/procedure. |
Offer alternative task | DP offers child a lesser challenging task (‘Do you want to sit on mum’s knees?’) |
Explanation | DP explains to parent about child uncooperative behaviours which mostly is related to child developmental stage. |
Refer to community resources | DP refers to available community resources for parent to access as part of Childsmile procedure. |
NV Touch directing | DP physically directs or manoeuvres child’s body, limbs head or mouth. |
NV Touch playful | DP touches child with hands, brush, mirror etc. in a playful manner. |
NV Touch reassuring | DP/parent uses touch to comfort child. |
NV Praise | DP/parent’s nonverbal behaviour to praise/encourage child |
NV Procedure demonstration | DP demonstrates to parent/child on dental related procedures (toothbrushing) |
Verbal facilitation | Parent helps DP or child to convey information for easier understanding to the third party. |
NV Procedure facilitation | Parent physically directs/manoeuvres child’s body to facilitate DP’s procedure. |
Child behaviour | |
Speech (yes) | Child says ‘yes’ |
Speech (no) | Child says ‘No’ |
Speech (other) | Child says any other utterances except for ‘yes’ and ‘no’ |
Dental talk | Child says anything to reply DP’s oral health related question |
Crying/groaning | Verbal sound suggesting pain, fear, upset. |
Laugh | Verbal sound suggesting enjoyment. |
NV Hide face/mouth | Child covers face with arms or hands. |
NV Push away (hand) | Child uses hand/s to push DP or instrument away. |
NV Sits up/moves away | Child sits up from lying on the dental chair; stands up (walks way) from sitting. |
NV Withdraw | Child withdraws/hides behind/in adult’s body. |
NV Agreement | Child conveys acceptance by non-verbal behaviours (nodding head). |
NV Shakes head | Child conveys refusal/reluctance/disagreement to information/procedure. |
NV Turns head | Child turns head away from DP or a normal position. |
NV Interact with instrument | Child holds or touches the instruments (brush, cotton wool, mirror, gloves). |
NV Toothbrushing demonstration | Child demonstrates toothbrushing to DP. |
NV Pointing | Child points to anything in the surgery to attraction parent’s attention. |