Next Article in Journal
Bridging the Knowledge Gap for Pressure Injury Management in Nursing Homes
Previous Article in Journal
Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument for Children and Adolescents (BackPEI-CA): Expansion, Content Validation, and Reliability
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Pain and Avoidance during and after Endodontic Therapy: The Role of Pain Anticipation and Self-Efficacy

by
Noelia Santos-Puerta
1 and
Cecilia Peñacoba-Puente
2,*
1
Ph.D Program for Health Science, Rey Juan Carlos Doctoral College, C/Quintana, 2, 28008 Madrid, Spain
2
Department of Psychology, Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda. Atenas s/n, Alcorcón, 28922 Madrid, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1399; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031399
Submission received: 8 December 2021 / Revised: 31 December 2021 / Accepted: 20 January 2022 / Published: 27 January 2022
(This article belongs to the Topic State-of-the-Art Dentistry and Oral Health)

Abstract

Background: Pain anticipation has been identified as a predictor of pain and avoidance with respect to endodontic therapy. Self-efficacy is also key to the development and maintenance of health behaviors and achieve patient adherence to treatment. However, the role of self-efficacy has not been studied yet in endodontic treatment. Methods: This study was conducted on 101 patients who needed root canal therapy. They had to fill a questionnaire before treatment registered pain anticipation and self-efficacy; during and after treatment were registered pain intensity and avoidance. Results: Pain anticipation explained pain during (Beta = 0.51, t = 5.82, p ≤ 0.001, [0.34, 0.69]) and after treatment (Beta = 0.38, t = 4.35, p ≤ 0.001, [0.21, 0.55]). Self-efficacy did not have an influence in pain values. Pain anticipation explained avoidance during (Beta = 0.51, t = 3.60, p ≤ 0.001, [0.23, 0.80]) and after treatment (Beta = 0.62, t = 4.29, p ≤ 0.001, [0.33, 0.91]). Self-efficacy had a significant role in avoidance during treatment (Beta = 0.12, t = 2.19, p ≤ 0.03, [0.01, 0.23]) with a strong moderation relationship between pain anticipation and avoidance when self-efficacy was medium (Beta = 0.44, t = 3.24, p = 0.002, [0.17, 0.72]) or high (Beta = 0.84, t = 3.5, p ≤ 0.001, [0.37, 1.33]). Self-efficacy was not significant respect to avoidance after treatment. Conclusions: Self-efficacy is an important variable in endodontic therapy due to their moderating effect between pain anticipation and avoidance behavior during the procedure. It is necessary to improve the results of root canal therapy and reduce patient’s avoidance in order to take into account this variable.
Keywords: avoidance; pain anticipation; self-efficacy; endodontic therapy avoidance; pain anticipation; self-efficacy; endodontic therapy

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Santos-Puerta, N.; Peñacoba-Puente, C. Pain and Avoidance during and after Endodontic Therapy: The Role of Pain Anticipation and Self-Efficacy. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 1399. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031399

AMA Style

Santos-Puerta N, Peñacoba-Puente C. Pain and Avoidance during and after Endodontic Therapy: The Role of Pain Anticipation and Self-Efficacy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(3):1399. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031399

Chicago/Turabian Style

Santos-Puerta, Noelia, and Cecilia Peñacoba-Puente. 2022. "Pain and Avoidance during and after Endodontic Therapy: The Role of Pain Anticipation and Self-Efficacy" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 3: 1399. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031399

APA Style

Santos-Puerta, N., & Peñacoba-Puente, C. (2022). Pain and Avoidance during and after Endodontic Therapy: The Role of Pain Anticipation and Self-Efficacy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1399. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031399

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop