The effect of the pop-up book aku dan gigiku on blood pressure in children aged 4–6 years

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the pop-up book Aku dan gigiku as an intervention strategy in reducing anxiety in young children before dental treatment. Methods: 78 children aged 4–6 years were randomly divided into two groups: An intervention group with the pop-up book intervention and a control group without the pop-up book intervention. They were placed in a waiting room, and their blood pressure was measured. The experimental design of this clinical research was statistically analyzed using independent t-tests to compare decreased blood pressure between the intervention and control groups. Results: The result of the study revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in decreased blood pressure with the intervention of the pop-up book Aku dan gigiku. As dental anxiety leads to undesirable distresses, it generates physiological changes such as blood pressure. Interventions should thus be undertaken to reduce dentalanxiety, and the pop-up book is an example of an intervention medium as it educates children and presents interesting illustrations. Conclusion: The pop-up book Aku dan gigiku thus appears to be an effective method in reducing anxiety in children aged 4–6 years when used as an intervention strategy before dental treatment.