Association Between Dental Anxiety, Utilisation and Oral Health-related Quality of Life Among Young Adults in Malaysia
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Abstract
Introduction: Dental anxiety (DA) is a potential barrier to dental care among young adults in Malaysia, yet its influence on dental utilisation (DU) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the relationship between DA and DU, as well as their impact on OHRQoL for Malaysian young adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 601 young adults in Selangor using convenience sampling. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing DA, DU and OHRQoL. Results: The mean age of participants was 20.67 ± 2.71 years. While 94.8% perceived dental visits as important, only 72.5% reported intent to attend preventive check-ups. The most common barriers to DU were time (67.2%), cost (17%), and fear (6.8%). The mean MDAS score was 11.87 ± 4.42. Higher DA was significantly associated with sex and unknown fear items (p<0.05). However, DA was not significantly related to actual DU behaviour. Multiple linear regression identified key predictors of poorer OHRQoL, including older age (p = 0.016), Malay ethnicity (p < 0.001), proximity to a dental clinic (≤5 km: p = 0.014), and high DA (MDAS ≥ 13: p < 0.001). The model demonstrated moderate explanatory power (Adjusted R² = 0.143, F = 8.153, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Although DA did not significantly influence DU, it was associated with OHRQoL, along with age, ethnicity, and proximity to dental clinics. These findings highlight the need to address DA to enhance oral health-related quality of life among young Malaysian adults.
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