ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Fluoride varnish therapy (FVT) is a dental caries preventive service that its effectiveness has been well documented. A lot of children, especially the five-year-old and six-year-old ones, are suffering with anxiety during this service and do not readily allow it. The present study aimed to cast light on the effect of motion graphic-based narrative story with a cognitive-behavioral approach in reducing FVT anxiety among six-year-old children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was an intervention trial type that was conducted in Ardabil city and among school students. Five children suffering from FVT anxiety were randomly selected for the intervention. First, Venham and Gaulin-Kremer's anxiety scale was completed for them. The motion graphic-based narrative therapy was implemented for six weeks. Session 1 was assigned to filling the questionnaire and collecting data. The motion graphic-based narrative therapy started from the second session. The anxiety scale was filled for the children every ten days for a total of four times. The results were analyzed by Blanchard and Schwarz's progress formula and control charts. The intervention sessions included gathering information, watching motion graphics, relaxation skills, watching the process of performing fluoride varnish therapy, teaching the advantages of fluoride varnish therapy, and in the last session performing fluoride varnish therapy with the technique of attention diversion while watching motion graphics. RESULTS: The motion graphic-based narrative therapy by the cognitive-behavioral approach proved effective in reducing anxiety. At the end of the intervention sessions, the level of anxiety decreased from 8 to 2.2 and the statistical control chart of the process shows that the intervention process is stable and the stability in order to reduce anxiety and the results are within the control limits. CONCLUSION: The results show that motion graphic-based narrative therapy can be a psychotherapy method for reducing the symptoms of dental anxiety among children.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Play therapy is an intelligent tool in cognitive-behavioral therapies. In today's world, the Internet and technology play a key role in all aspects of people's life including mental health. The present study explores the feasibility of using Internet-assisted play therapy to solve children's psychological issues in primary healthcare systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present qualitative research was conducted by the content analysis approach on 20 experts working in the healthcare centers, who were selected purposefully. The sample was saturated with these 20 participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were coded manually. Then, they were analyzed in the Atlas.ti software package. RESULTS: The results revealed 15 themes and 10 sub-themes. The themes included (1) safety, (2) efficiency, (3) client-orientedness, (4) organizational growth, (5) time, (6) effectiveness, (7) justice-orientedness, (8) access, (9) feedback, (10) analysis, (11) children's computer game room, (12) reward, (13) group game, and (14) capability to be integrated into other electronic programs. CONCLUSION: It seems that Internet-based play therapy is plausible to be used as a service in primary healthcare to tackle the psychological problems of children in the target population if the challenges related to the exploratory themes are taken care of.
