[Investigation and analysis of children's choice of environment in oral clinics].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate and analyze children,s choice of environment in oral clinics so as to provide evidence for improving the oral clinic environment.

METHODS: A total of 110 children in the Pediatric Dentistry of Qingdao Stomatological Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University were selected as the research subjects from September to December 2019 to conduct a questionnaire survey, and the results were statistically analyzed by using a Chi-square test.

RESULTS: A total of 107 effective questionnaires were collected. The children surveyed liked the room with pink and blue walls (61.68%), cartoon murals (57.94%), and arranged toys (61.68%). Most of them did not dislike the special smell in the room (62.62%) and liked the smell of orange essential oil (52.34%). During treatment, the children liked watching cartoons the best (61.68%), expected doctors to be dressed in white (51.40%), and expected doctors to be treated by female doctors (68.22%). Most children wanted to be accompanied by family members during treatment (62.62%). The Chi-square test showed statistically significant differences in seven questions between preschool and school-age children: the environment of the clinic room, the color of the walls, the clinic decoration, the entertainment during treatment, color of the doctors' dress and gender, and company of the family members during treatment ( P <0.05). The difference of children's choice of color of the wall and clinic decoration during the first and subsequent visit was statistically significant ( P <0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the choice of clinic environment between different genders ( P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Children have their own preferences for the environment in the oral clinic. For preschool children, we need to create a soothing and warm atmosphere with warm colors liked by children. For school-age children, a calm and relaxed clinic atmosphere with cold colors should be created.