Anxious ‘tells’: reveal signs of stress and anxiety in dentistry
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Anxious ‘tells’: Working with patients and dentists to reveal signs and triggers of stress and anxiety in the clinic (AngsT)
IRAS ID
322020
Contact name
Mona Nasser
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/79JN3, Open Science Forum
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
AngsT offers a novel approach to detecting subtle signs or "tells" of anxiety in the dental clinic. Current methods of helping anxiety are only moderately effective, and few have been developed in collaboration with patients or clinicians. AngsT builds on the work of a team consisting of clinicians, filmmakers, and researchers who have demonstrated how novel filming techniques and methods from the humanities can be used to improve the empathic skills of doctors. A pilot study we conducted using video recordings of dental treatments suggests the potential value of similar approaches to dental anxiety.
In AngsT, we will utilize video/voice recordings of treatment sessions along with biometric devices and thermal cameras to collect data, in addition to conducting post-treatment interviews with patients and dentists. This will enable us to identify when and how anxiety emerged during treatment. Subsequently, we will analyze the videos to consider how environmental factors (sounds, smells, lighting, room layout, background conversations, etc.) during the treatment experience influence the dynamics of anxiety and the overall "atmosphere" of the dental place. Finally, we will investigate whether understanding these "tells" of anxiety and discussing patients' experiences helps dental patients and dentists better manage their anxieties and behaviors during subsequent treatments. These insights will shape future training programs for dentists.
In this way, our project aims to enhance dental clinicians' abilities to anticipate and respond to patients' (and their own) anxiety effectively. Afterward, we will collaborate with computer vision, robotics, and cybersecurity experts to determine whether we can utilize the data to train machines to recognize signs of anxiety and provide technological aid to dentists and dental professionals.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SW/0148
Date of REC Opinion
18 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion