Traços de temperamento estão associados ao medo e ansiedade odontológicos em crianças e adolescentes? Uma revisão sistemática

Abstract

This systematic review aims to verify the association/correlation of temperament traits with dental fear and anxiety (DFA) in children and adolescents (PROSPERO #CRD42020207578). the PEO strategy: children and adolescents (P-population), temperament (E-exposure), and DFA (O-outcome). Observational studies without restrictions on year or language of publication were included. A systematic search was performed, by two independent researchers, in seven databases and grey literature, up to April/2021. The following data of the included articles were extracted and synthesized: location, year, study design, place of data collection, characteristics of the participants, methods for exposure and outcome variables, results, and conclusion. The risk of bias assessment was performed by the Fowkes and Fulton criteria and the certainty of the evidence by the GRADE method. 1362 articles were recovered and 11 were included. Qualitative synthesis by subgroups showed positive association/correlation between temperament of emotionality/neuroticism and shyness with DFA in children and adolescents. Eight studies had low methodological quality. In conclusion, children and adolescents with temperament like emotionality/neuroticism and shyness are more likely to present higher DFA. This result should be evaluated with caution due to the high heterogeneity and low methodological quality of the studies, with very low certainty of evidence.