Preparedness of Dentists to Manage Anxiety in Developmentally Disabled Patients

Table 1

Respondents’ self-reported attitudes and behaviors toward treating special needs patients.

Statements about treating special needs patients	Average response
I feel comfortable prescribing oral sedation for special needs patients	1.65
I feel comfortable using physical restraints on special needs patients	1.68
Financial compensation for treating special needs patients is adequate	2.01
My dental education prepared me well for treating special needs patients	2.42
I have seen an increase in the number of special needs patients over the years in my practice	2.61
My staff is knowledgeable in treating special needs patients	2.67
My practice is set up for the treatment of special needs patients	2.67
I am concerned about legalities when treating special needs patients	2.72
My staff is comfortable treating special needs patients	2.82
I like to treat special needs patients	2.90
I am confident treating special needs patients	2.92
I would like to learn more about treating special needs patients	2.92
I am concerned about the safety of special needs patients	3.22

Note: A mean value of 1.65 demonstrates that the calculated average response to that statement fell between 1 = strongly disagree and 2 = disagree. 0 = Not applicable; 1 = strongly disagree; 2 = disagree; 3 = agree; 4 = strongly agree.