INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS FOR REDUCING ANXIETY OF DENTAL STUDENTS DURING THE FIRST PEDIATRIC DENTAL CARE

Abstract

Anxiety is a recurring issue among undergraduate students in Dentistry, especially in the face of the first clinical care, such as pediatric dental care. This condition can compromise both the mental and physical health of students and their performance and relationship with patients. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of instructional videos in reducing the anxiety of undergraduates during the first care of pediatric patients. The research was carried out in the second semester of 2024, with students from the 8th period of Dentistry at the Federal University of Campina Grande, Patos Campus. Participants answered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before clinical care. Then, they watched vlog-style instructional videos, which showed the clinical routine conducted by an undergraduate student, presented 15 minutes before the consultation. After the service, the IDATE-State was reapplied. The study was experimental, descriptive and qualitative, with a non-probabilistic approach. Data collection took place at the institution itself, and the results were analyzed using the SPSS software, using descriptive techniques and distribution by frequency and percentage. A total of 16 students participated in the study. Regarding the STAI-Trait, 62.5% had a low level of anxiety and 37.5% had medium anxiety. In the STAI-State administered before the intervention, 50% reported low anxiety and 43.8% medium anxiety. After watching the videos, 81.3% of the participants showed low anxiety, and there were no cases of high anxiety. The results indicate that instructional videos are effective in reducing anxiety in challenging clinical situations, offering emotional security and better preparation for pediatric dental care. The tool shows promise as a strategy to support clinical teaching in the training of dental surgeons.