Semantics and the dental experience
Date
1977
DOI
Authors
Duquette, Ann Marie
Quinsigamond Community College (Worcester, Mass)
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not differences exist between dentally trained persons and dentally lay persons with respect to emotional responses to words and phrases associated with dentistry and dental experiences. In addition, the relationship between the level of dental knowledge possessed and the level of fear and anxiety aroused in response to words and phrases associated with dental experiences was also examined.
Thirty dental hygiene students and thirty students of general study from Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Massachusetts were compared relative to their fear and anxiety responses given on a semantic differential test. Both groups were also compared with respect to amounts of dental knowledge possessed as measured by a multiple choice test and with respect to exposure to dentistry as patients as determined by a questionnaire.
Results revealed that no significant difference exists between the groups relative to exposure to dentistry as patients. Dental hygiene students performed significantly better than did students of general study on the multiple choice test. Dental hygiene students responded with significantly lower levels of fear and anxiety than did students of general study on the semantic differential test. However, there appears to be no substantial relationship between the level of dental knowledge possessed as measured by the multiple choice test and the level of fear and anxiety aroused in response to words and phrases associated with dental experiences as measured by the semantic differential test.
Description
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This study involved 30 students from the Dental School and 30 general study students from Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester, Mass.
Thesis (M.Sc.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry, 1977 (Dental Public Health).
Includes bibliographical references (leaf 17).
This study involved 30 students from the Dental School and 30 general study students from Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester, Mass.
Thesis (M.Sc.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry, 1977 (Dental Public Health).
Includes bibliographical references (leaf 17).
License
This work is protected by copyright. Downloading is restricted to the BU community. If you are the author of this work and would like to make it publicly available, please contact open-help@bu.edu.