Abstract
To evaluate uncooperative behavior by pediatric patients in dental clinical situations, multivariate analysis and other analyses of the relationships between patient age and expressions of uncooperative behavior were performed using criteria developedbyKurosuetal.(Kurosucriteria).Weexamined 224 healthy children between the ages of 3 and 6 years, and the following results were obtained.
1.Behaviors used as major explanatory variables identified by multiple regression analysis of the relationship between patient age and the Kurosu criteria were [Crying loudly], [Kicking legs], [Cry ing quietly], [Flailing hands], and [Shaking head].
2.In results of principal component analysis, the first principal component of 3-year-old patients was an index that reflected the effects of all Kurosu items and accounted for approximately 40% of the total. For the second principal component, the factors [hands] and [eyes, face] were considered to be contradictory indicators. The first principal component of the 4-year-old patients was an index that reflected the effects of all Kurosu items and accounted for about 34% of the total. For the second principal component, the factors [hands] and [eyes, face] were considered to be contradictory indicators. For the third component, the factors [trunk] and [eyes, face] were considered to be contradictory indicators. The first principal component of the 5-year-old patients was an index that reflected the effects of all Kurosu items and accounted for approximately 50% of the total. For the second principal component, the factors [trunk] and [leg] were considered to be in the same group,while [eyes, face], [leg], and [trunk] were considered to be contradictory indicators. The first principal component of the 6-year-old patients was an index that reflected the effects of all Kurosu items and accounted for approximately 40% of the total. For the second principal component, the factors [leg] and [trunk] were considered to be contradictory indicators.
Based on our results, we concluded that expressions of uncooperative behavior in child patients do not always lessen with increasing age and each behavior has different meanings dependent on age.
