Non-Cochrane · other · PM41587898
Estimating the reliability of the modified dental anxiety scale: A systematic review and reliability generalization meta-analysis.
Özyavaş Sinan · Journal of health psychology · 2026 · PubMed · doi:10.1177/13591053251412485
Findings
70 findings
| Population | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Leave-one-study-out: Hauge_2021 removed | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, leave-one-study-out) 0.882 GRADE not reported 117 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Leave-one-study-out: Arora_2020 removed | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, leave-one-study-out) 0.881 GRADE not reported 117 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Leave-one-study-out: Dindaroglu_2023 removed | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, leave-one-study-out) 0.882 GRADE not reported 117 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score PEESE bias-adjusted intercept (three-level, CR2) | Cronbach's alpha (PEESE bias-adjusted intercept) 0.882 [0.871, 0.893] GRADE not reported 118 studies · 95588 participants |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Leave-one-study-out: Humphris_2009 removed | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, leave-one-study-out) 0.881 GRADE not reported 117 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Leave-one-study-out: Gasparro_2023 removed | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, leave-one-study-out) 0.881 GRADE not reported 117 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Leave-one-study-out: Espejo_Carrera_2021 removed | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, leave-one-study-out) 0.882 GRADE not reported 117 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Leave-one-study-out: Freeman_2019 removed | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, leave-one-study-out) 0.881 GRADE not reported 117 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Leave-one-study-out: Maganur_2024 removed | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, leave-one-study-out) 0.882 GRADE not reported 117 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score PET bias-adjusted intercept (three-level, CR2) | Cronbach's alpha (PET bias-adjusted intercept) 0.888 [0.868, 0.904] GRADE not reported 118 studies · 95588 participants |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.882 [0.873, 0.889] GRADE not reported 118 studies · 95588 participants |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Leave-one-study-out: Sivaramakrishnan_2022 removed | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, leave-one-study-out) 0.882 GRADE not reported 117 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Leave-one-study-out: Finlayson_2025 removed | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, leave-one-study-out) 0.882 GRADE not reported 117 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Not applicable (single instrument; reliability generalization) | Measurement error proportion (1 minus alpha) of MDAS total score | Measurement error proportion (1 - alpha) 0.118 [0.111, 0.127] GRADE not reported 118 studies · 95588 participants |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Analysis type: Research (1) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Research studies vs psychometric studies | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Analysis type: Research (1) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.881 [0.871, 0.890] GRADE not reported 92 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Analysis type: Psychometric (0) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Research studies vs psychometric studies | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Analysis type: Psychometric (0) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.884 [0.867, 0.898] GRADE not reported 26 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Research vs psychometric | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Research studies vs psychometric studies | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Research vs psychometric | Difference in alpha 0.003 GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Factor analysis: EFA (3) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | None vs CFA vs EFA | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Factor analysis: EFA (3) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.847 [0.789, 0.889] GRADE not reported 7 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Factor analysis: CFA (2) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | None vs CFA vs EFA | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Factor analysis: CFA (2) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.901 [0.878, 0.920] GRADE not reported 15 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Factor analysis: None (1) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | None vs CFA vs EFA | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Factor analysis: None (1) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.880 [0.871, 0.889] GRADE not reported 96 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Publication type: Master or doctoral dissertation (1) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Journal article vs dissertation | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Publication type: Master or doctoral dissertation (1) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.867 [0.691, 0.943] GRADE not reported 3 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Publication type: Journal article (0) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Journal article vs dissertation | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Publication type: Journal article (0) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.882 [0.873, 0.890] GRADE not reported 115 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Participant type: Mixed (3) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Patient vs community vs mixed vs healthcare staff | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Participant type: Mixed (3) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.886 [0.822, 0.926] GRADE not reported 5 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Participant type: Community (1) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Patient vs community vs mixed vs healthcare staff | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Participant type: Community (1) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.888 [0.876, 0.898] GRADE not reported 55 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Participant type: Patient (2) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Patient vs community vs mixed vs healthcare staff | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Participant type: Patient (2) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.876 [0.862, 0.888] GRADE not reported 57 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Participant type: Healthcare staff (0) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Patient vs community vs mixed vs healthcare staff | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Participant type: Healthcare staff (0) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.866 [0.788, 0.915] GRADE not reported 3 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Continent: Europe (0) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Europe vs Asia vs North America vs Africa vs Other | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Continent: Europe (0) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.892 [0.881, 0.902] GRADE not reported 57 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Continent: Other (South America and Australia) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Europe vs Asia vs North America vs Africa vs Other | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Continent: Other (South America and Australia) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.885 [0.733, 0.950] GRADE not reported 4 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Continent: North America (2) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Europe vs Asia vs North America vs Africa vs Other | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Continent: North America (2) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.875 [0.840, 0.903] GRADE not reported 10 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Continent: Africa (3) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Europe vs Asia vs North America vs Africa vs Other | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Continent: Africa (3) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.866 [0.819, 0.901] GRADE not reported 6 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Continent: Asia (1) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Europe vs Asia vs North America vs Africa vs Other | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Continent: Asia (1) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.867 [0.851, 0.882] GRADE not reported 40 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Language: English (0), adjusted for continent | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | English vs other languages | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Language: English (0), adjusted for continent | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.909 [0.898, 0.920] GRADE not reported 41 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Language: English (0) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | English vs other languages | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Language: English (0) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.896 [0.885, 0.907] GRADE not reported 42 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; English vs other languages (adjusted for continent) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | English vs other languages | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score English vs other languages (adjusted for continent) | Difference in alpha 0.027 GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; English vs other languages (unadjusted) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | English vs other languages | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score English vs other languages (unadjusted) | Difference in alpha 0.025 GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Language: Other languages (1) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | English vs other languages | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Language: Other languages (1) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.871 [0.860, 0.881] GRADE not reported 70 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Language: Other languages (1), adjusted for continent | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | English vs other languages | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Language: Other languages (1), adjusted for continent | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.883 [0.870, 0.894] GRADE not reported 70 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Intended construct: Trait (1) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Trait vs state (peri-procedural) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Intended construct: Trait (1) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.887 [0.878, 0.895] GRADE not reported 77 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Intended construct: Trait, adjusted for language | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Trait vs state (peri-procedural) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Intended construct: Trait, adjusted for language | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.875 [0.862, 0.886] GRADE not reported 71 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Intended construct: State (2) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Trait vs state (peri-procedural) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Intended construct: State (2) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.871 [0.851, 0.888] GRADE not reported 38 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Intended construct: State, adjusted for language | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Trait vs state (peri-procedural) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Intended construct: State, adjusted for language | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.861 [0.840, 0.880] GRADE not reported 35 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; Trait vs state (unadjusted) | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Trait vs state (peri-procedural) | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score Trait vs state (unadjusted) | Difference in alpha 0.016 GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; mean age = 46.9 years | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 10-year increase in mean sample age | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score mean age mean + 1 SD (46.9 years) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.892 [0.880, 0.903] GRADE not reported 74 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; moderator: mean age | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 10-year increase in mean sample age | Association of mean age with MDAS alpha Meta-regression on mean age (10 years) | Meta-regression slope (ABT scale) 0.0684 GRADE not reported 74 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; mean age = 33.8 years | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 10-year increase in mean sample age | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score mean age mean (33.8 years) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.882 [0.872, 0.892] GRADE not reported 74 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; mean age = 20.8 years | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 10-year increase in mean sample age | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score mean age mean - 1 SD (20.8 years) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.871 [0.855, 0.885] GRADE not reported 74 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; age SD = 4.52 years | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 10-year increase in SD of sample age | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score age SD mean - 1 SD (4.52 years) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.876 [0.862, 0.890] GRADE not reported 70 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; age SD = 15.07 years | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 10-year increase in SD of sample age | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score age SD mean + 1 SD (15.07 years) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.890 [0.875, 0.903] GRADE not reported 70 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; age SD = 9.80 years | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 10-year increase in SD of sample age | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score age SD mean (9.80 years) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.884 [0.873, 0.893] GRADE not reported 70 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; moderator: age SD | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 10-year increase in SD of sample age | Association of age SD with MDAS alpha Meta-regression on age SD (10 years SD) | Meta-regression slope (ABT scale) 0.112 GRADE not reported 70 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; female proportion = 43% | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 10 percentage point increase in female proportion | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score female proportion mean - 1 SD (43%) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.888 [0.877, 0.898] GRADE not reported 115 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; moderator: female proportion | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 10 percentage point increase in female proportion | Association of female proportion with MDAS alpha Meta-regression on female proportion (10 percentage points) | Meta-regression slope (ABT scale) -0.0343 GRADE not reported 115 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; female proportion = 57% | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 10 percentage point increase in female proportion | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score female proportion mean (57%) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.882 [0.874, 0.891] GRADE not reported 115 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; female proportion = 70% | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 10 percentage point increase in female proportion | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score female proportion mean + 1 SD (70%) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.877 [0.864, 0.888] GRADE not reported 115 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; publication year = 2010 | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 1-year increase in publication year | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score publication year mean - 1 SD (2010) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.884 [0.872, 0.895] GRADE not reported 118 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; moderator: publication year | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 1-year increase in publication year | Association of publication year with MDAS alpha Meta-regression on publication year (1 year) | Meta-regression slope (ABT scale) -0.00272 GRADE not reported 118 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; publication year = 2017 | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 1-year increase in publication year | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score publication year mean (2017) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.882 [0.873, 0.890] GRADE not reported 118 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; publication year = 2023 | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 1-year increase in publication year | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score publication year mean + 1 SD (2023) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.880 [0.867, 0.891] GRADE not reported 118 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; moderator: sample size | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 100-participant increase in study sample size | Association of sample size with MDAS alpha Meta-regression on sample size (100 participants) | Meta-regression slope (ABT scale) 0.00314 GRADE not reported 118 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; sample size = n=3,131 | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 100-participant increase in study sample size | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score sample size mean + 1 SD (n=3,131) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.890 [0.877, 0.901] GRADE not reported 118 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; sample size = n=5 | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 100-participant increase in study sample size | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score sample size mean - 1 SD (n=5) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.878 [0.861, 0.894] GRADE not reported 118 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; sample size = n=747 | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 100-participant increase in study sample size | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score sample size mean (n=747) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.881 [0.865, 0.895] GRADE not reported 118 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; moderator: scale mean | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 1-point increase in sample mean MDAS score | Association of scale mean with MDAS alpha Meta-regression on scale mean (1 point) | Meta-regression slope (ABT scale) 0.00107 GRADE not reported 78 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; scale mean = 15.920 | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 1-point increase in sample mean MDAS score | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score scale mean mean + 1 SD (15.920) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.879 [0.846, 0.905] GRADE not reported 78 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; scale mean = 7.957 | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 1-point increase in sample mean MDAS score | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score scale mean mean - 1 SD (7.957) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.878 [0.842, 0.906] GRADE not reported 78 studies |
| Participants completing the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in included studies; scale mean = 11.938 | MDAS (5-item dental anxiety questionnaire), total score | Per 1-point increase in sample mean MDAS score | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score scale mean mean (11.938) | Cronbach's alpha (pooled, back-transformed from Bonett ABT) 0.878 [0.854, 0.898] GRADE not reported 78 studies |
| Studies using the MDAS identified in the search (493 studies) | Reliability induction (omission or reuse of previously reported reliability) | Not applicable (descriptive prevalence) | Reliability induction by report (reuse of prior estimates) Induction by report | Proportion (%) 14.8 GRADE not reported 73 studies |
| Studies using the MDAS identified in the search (493 studies) | Reliability induction (omission or reuse of previously reported reliability) | Not applicable (descriptive prevalence) | Share of cumulative sample size in studies without sample-specific reliability Cumulative sample size affected | Proportion (%) 64.11 GRADE not reported 375 studies · 170767 participants |
| Studies using the MDAS identified in the search (493 studies) | Reliability induction (omission or reuse of previously reported reliability) | Not applicable (descriptive prevalence) | Total reliability induction rate Total induction (omission plus by report) | Proportion (%) 76.1 GRADE not reported 375 studies |
| Studies using the MDAS identified in the search (493 studies) | Reliability induction (omission or reuse of previously reported reliability) | Not applicable (descriptive prevalence) | Reliability induction by omission (no reliability reported) Induction by omission | Proportion (%) 61.3 GRADE not reported 302 studies |
Included primary studies 118
Open in Studies| Study | Year | Also included by | Outcomes it informs here | Trial data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu-Ghazaleh (2011) matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Acharya (2008) Factors affecting dental anxiety and beliefs in an Indian population DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2842.2007.01777.x | 2007 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Akomolafe (2023) Relationship Between Types of Information, Dental Anxiety, and Postoperative Pain Following Third Molar Surgery: A Randomized Study DOI:10.1016/j.joms.2022.10.016 | 2023 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Al Jasser (2019) Dental anxiety among dental, medical, and nursing students of two major universities in the central region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:… DOI:10.1186/s12903-019-0757-x | 2019 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Al-Nasser (2016) matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Alamri (2019) Validation of Arabic version of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and Kleinknecht's Dental Fear Survey Scale (DFS) and combined… PMID:32039074 | 2019 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Alkuwaiti (2023) Dental Anxiety Among Physicians: Relationship with Oral Problems, Dental Visits, and Socio-Demographic Factors DOI:10.2147/ppa.s406105 | 2023 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Alsoghier (2021) Psychosocial impacts of oral epithelial dysplasia DOI:10.1111/jop.13173 | 2021 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Appukuttan (2012) Reliability and validity of the Tamil version of Modified Dental Anxiety Scale DOI:10.2334/josnusd.54.313 | 2012 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Arora (2020) Depression, drugs and dental anxiety in prisons: A mediation model explaining dental decay experience DOI:10.1111/cdoe.12522 | 2020 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Baker (2006) Emergency Dental Clinic Patients in South Devon, their Anxiety Levels, Expressed Demand for Treatment under Sedation and Suitability for… DOI:10.1308/135576106775193932 | 2006 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Beltes (2024) Exploring dental anxiety as a mediator in the relationship between mindfulness or self-compassion and dental neglect DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36920 | 2024 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Berberoğlu (2021) Assessment of dental anxiety levels among dental emergency patients during the COVID‑19 pandemic through the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale DOI:10.17219/dmp/139042 | 2021 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Caltabiano (2018) Dental anxiety in patients attending a student dental clinic DOI:10.1186/s12903-018-0507-5 | 2018 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Carrillo-Díaz (2012a) Self‐assessed oral health, cognitive vulnerability and dental anxiety in children: testing a mediational model DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0528.2011.00646.x | 2011 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Carrillo-Díaz (2012b) Assessing the relative efficacy of cognitive and non‐cognitive factors as predictors of dental anxiety DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0722.2011.00924.x | 2012 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Carrillo-Díaz (2012c) Treatment experience, frequency of dental visits, and children’s dental fear: a cognitive approach DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0722.2011.00921.x | 2012 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Carrillo-Díaz (2013) The influence of gender on the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health‐related emotional well‐being DOI:10.1111/j.1365-263x.2012.01242.x | 2012 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Chowdhury (2019) Dental anxiety in first- and final-year Indian dental students DOI:10.1038/s41405-019-0017-9 | 2019 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Coolidge (2008a) Psychometric properties of Greek versions of the Modified Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and the Dental Fear Survey (DFS) DOI:10.1186/1472-6831-8-29 | 2008 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Coolidge (2008b) Psychometric properties of Spanish-language adult dental fear measures DOI:10.1186/1472-6831-8-15 | 2008 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Coolidge (2010) Additional psychometric data for the Spanish Modified Dental Anxiety Scale, and psychometric data for a Spanish version of the Revised… DOI:10.1186/1472-6831-10-12 | 2010 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Coulson & Buchanan (2008) Self‐reported efficacy of an online dental anxiety support group: a pilot study DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0528.2007.00349.x | 2007 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Crego (2013) Applying the Cognitive Vulnerability Model to the analysis of cognitive and family influences on children's dental fear DOI:10.1111/eos.12041 | 2013 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Crego (2015) Dental fear and expected effectiveness of destructive coping as predictors of children's uncooperative intentions in dental settings DOI:10.1111/ipd.12126 | 2014 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Dash (2024) EFFECT OF DENTAL ANXIETY ON ORAL HEALTH VALUE AMONG PROFESSIONAL ADULTS - A CORRELATIONAL STUDY DOI:10.58240/1829006x-2024.1-82 | 2024 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Deepa (2024) Association of Anxiety in Patients Visiting Dental Institution DOI:10.4103/jid.jid_65_23 | 2024 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Devi (2025) Psychosocial Determinants of Poor Dental Attendance Among Young Mexican‐Identifying Adults in California DOI:10.1111/cdoe.13021 | 2024 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Dindaroglu (2023) Assessment of the Fear and Anxiety of Children Referred to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic DOI:10.4274/jpr.galenos.2023.66743 | 2023 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Dou (2018) The prevalence of dental anxiety and its association with pain and other variables among adult patients with irreversible pulpitis DOI:10.1186/s12903-018-0563-x | 2018 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Dumitrescu & Kawamura (2010) Involvement of psychosocial factors in the association of obesity with periodontitis DOI:10.2334/josnusd.52.115 | 2010 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Eseadi & Surjaningrum (2024) A Cross-Sectional Study on Incidence and Predictors of Self-Reported Dental Anxiety among Nigerian Public Primary Schoolchildren DOI:10.1055/s-0044-1781440 | 2024 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Espejo-Carrera (2021) Prevalence of dental anxiety in patients attending the dental service of two hospitals managed by the Ministry of Health of Peru DOI:10.17126/joralres.2021.018 | 2021 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Facco (2015) matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Finlayson (2025) Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Oral Health Behavior Social Support (OHBSS) Scales in English and Spanish for… DOI:10.1186/s12903-025-05880-z | 2025 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Freeman (2007) matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Freeman & Richards (2019) Factors Associated with Accessing Prison Dental Services in Scotland: A Cross-Sectional Study DOI:10.3390/dj7010012 | 2019 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Gasparro (2023) A Cross-Sectional Study on Cognitive Vulnerability Patterns in Dental Anxiety: The Italian Validation of the Dental Fear Maintenance… DOI:10.3390/ijerph20032298 | 2023 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Geers (2024) Cultural normative beliefs in the U.S. as a determinant of negative dental experiences and dental anxiety: a preliminary investigation DOI:10.1007/s12144-024-06879-5 | 2024 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Giri (2017) Translation and Validation of Modified Dental Anxiety Scale: The Nepali Version DOI:10.1155/2017/5495643 | 2017 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Gremigni (2014) Validation of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in an Italian Sample and Invariance Across Gender and Mode of Administration DOI:10.1027/1015-5759/a000182 | 2014 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Guentsch (2017) Oral health and dental anxiety in a German practice-based sample DOI:10.1007/s00784-016-1951-8 | 2016 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Gunjal (2017) Dental Anxiety among Medical and Paramedical Undergraduate Students of Malaysia DOI:10.1155/2017/4762576 | 2017 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Gupta (2015) Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Kannada Version of Modified Dental Anxiety Scale Among an Adult Indian Population. PMID:26501009 | 2015 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Halvari (2019) Dental anxiety, oral health‐related quality of life, and general well‐being: A self‐determination theory perspective DOI:10.1111/jasp.12583 | 2019 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Halvari (2020a) The Roles of Patients' Authenticity and Accepting External Influence, and Clinicians' Treatment Styles in Predicting Patients' Dental… PMID:33680169 | 2020 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Halvari (2020b) Motivation and anxiety for dental treatment and dental attendance: The roles of the locus of causality personality and treatment styles DOI:10.1111/jasp.12645 | 2019 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Hassan (2022) Dental Anxiety and Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life among Rural Community-Dwelling Older Adults DOI:10.3390/ijerph19137643 | 2022 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Hauge (2021) Dentist‐administered cognitive behavioural therapy versus four habits/midazolam: An RCT study of dental anxiety treatment in primary… DOI:10.1111/eos.12794 | 2021 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Haugejorden & Klock (2000) Avoidance of dental visits: the predictive validity of three dental anxiety scales DOI:10.1080/00016350050217091 | 2000 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Heaton (2007) Predicting anxiety during dental treatment using patients'self-reports DOI:10.14219/jada.archive.2007.0135 | 2007 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Hittner & Hemmo (2009) Psychosocial Predictors of Dental Anxiety DOI:10.1177/1359105308097945 | 2009 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Höglund (2024) Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Swedish version of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale DOI:10.2340/aos.v83.42436 | 2024 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Honkala (2014) DOI:10.1922/cdh_3425honkala06 | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Horovitz (2016) Distraction versus training attention away from threat: How to best wait for the dentist? DOI:10.1111/ajpy.12128 | 2016 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Humphris (2000) Further evidence for the reliability and validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale DOI:10.1111/j.1875-595x.2000.tb00570.x | 2000 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Humphris (2006) Does completing a dental anxiety questionnaire increase anxiety? A randomised controlled trial with adults in general dental practice DOI:10.1038/sj.bdj.4813772 | 2006 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Humphris (2009) The modified dental anxiety scale: UK general public population norms in 2008 with further psychometrics and effects of age DOI:10.1186/1472-6831-9-20 | 2009 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Humphris (2013) UK population norms for the modified dental anxiety scale with percentile calculator: adult dental health survey 2009 results DOI:10.1186/1472-6831-13-29 | 2013 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Humphris & King (2011) The prevalence of dental anxiety across previous distressing experiences DOI:10.1016/j.janxdis.2010.09.007 | 2011 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Humphris & Newton (2025) Is the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) a Single or Two Construct Measure? A Theoretical and Pragmatic Perspective DOI:10.3390/dj13020068 | 2025 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Ilgüy (2005) Reliability and Validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale in Turkish Patients DOI:10.1177/147323000503300214 | 2005 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Jaakkola (2013) Dental fear and sense of coherence among 18‐yr‐old adolescents in <scp>F</scp>inland DOI:10.1111/eos.12006 | 2012 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Jiang (2020) A randomised wait-list controlled pilot trial of one-session virtual reality exposure therapy for blood-injection-injury phobias DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.076 | 2020 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Jiang (2024) Current status and influencing factors of missing appointments in patients with periodontitis: a cross-sectional study DOI:10.1186/s12903-024-05283-6 | 2024 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Kamarozaman (2022) matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Kassem El Hajj (2021) Assessment of dental anxiety and dental phobia among adults in Lebanon DOI:10.1186/s12903-021-01409-2 | 2021 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Kinner (2014) matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Koleoso & Akhigbe (2014) Prevalence of Dental Anxiety and the Psychometric Properties of Modified Dental Anxiety Scale in Nigeria DOI:10.5005/jp-journals-10015-1258 | 2014 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Košir (2021) Real-life dental examination elicits physiological responses different to visual and auditory dental-related stimuli DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0252128 | 2021 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Kroniņa (2017) matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Lam (2019) Oral Health–Related Quality of Life Among Publicly Insured Mental Health Service Outpatients With Serious Mental Illness DOI:10.1176/appi.ps.201900111 | 2019 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Lin, C.-S. (2021) Translation and validation of modified dental anxiety scale based on adult Taiwan population DOI:10.1186/s12903-021-02017-w | 2021 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Lin, C.-Y. (2021) Psychometric Testing of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale among Iranian Adolescents during COVID-19 Pandemic DOI:10.3390/ejihpe11040092 | 2021 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Ma (2020) Development of a subjective scale for sound quality assessments in building acoustics DOI:10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101177 | 2020 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Maganur (2024) Color perception and its relation to dental anxiety in children DOI:10.17219/dmp/145896 | 2024 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Majidi & Manshaee (2021) Effects of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy on Dentophobia in Clients of Dental Offices in Isfahan, Tehran, and Shahrekord (Iran) DOI:10.5812/ijpbs.115684 | 2021 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Malvania & Ajithkrishnan (2011) Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of dental anxiety among a group of adult patients attending a dental institution in Vadodara… DOI:10.4103/0970-9290.79989 | 2011 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Mamani-Cori (2024) matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Mărginean & Filimon (2012) matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Minja (2016) Prevalence and factors associated with dental anxiety among primary school teachers in Ngara District, Tanzania DOI:10.4314/thrb.v18i1.6 | 2015 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Nermo (2021) Dental anxiety and potentially traumatic events: a cross-sectional study based on the Tromsø Study—Tromsø 7 DOI:10.1186/s12903-021-01968-4 | 2021 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Newton & Edwards (2005) matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Newton 2005 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Ogawa (2020) The Reliability and Validity of the Japanese Version of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale among Dental Outpatients DOI:10.1155/2020/8734946 | 2020 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Padilla-Fonseca (2024) The Relationship Between Dental Anxiety and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Periodontitis DOI:10.3390/diagnostics14232624 | 2024 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Peric & Tadin (2024) Associations between Dental Anxiety Levels, Self-Reported Oral Health, Previous Unpleasant Dental Experiences, and Behavioural Reactions… PMID:39202584 | 2024 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Piedra-Hernández (2023) Dental anxiety and oral health-related quality of life before and after non-surgical periodontal treatment DOI:10.1007/s00784-023-05165-1 | 2023 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Potter (2014) Clinical implications of panic symptoms in dental phobia DOI:10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.07.013 | 2014 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Potter (2017) matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Prihastari (2020) The relationship between dental fear, anxiety and sociodemography in Jakarta, Indonesia DOI:10.20473/j.djmkg.v53.i4.p175-180 | 2020 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Pylińska-Dąbrowska (2020) Psychological Functioning of Patients Undergoing Oral Surgery Procedures during the Regime Related with SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic. PMID:33081004 | 2020 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Qazi (2024) Effectiveness of auditory distraction on the management of dental anxiety in patients undergoing tooth extraction at a tertiary care… DOI:10.1002/cre2.863 | 2024 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Saatchi (2015) matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Saba & Katirci (2023) Relationship between dental anxiety levels and oral health among dental patients in Turkey: a cross-sectional study DOI:10.1186/s12903-023-03041-8 | 2023 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Salgarello (2021) Translation and Validation of Italian Version of Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF-4C+): A Cross-Sectional Study DOI:10.3390/dj9120149 | 2021 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Santos-Puerta & Peñacoba-Puente (2023) Minimizing the Vicious Circle of Pain–Anxiety–Avoidance: The Role of Positive Affect in Endodontic Therapy DOI:10.3390/app13074327 | 2023 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Scandurra (2020) The Italian Validation of the Level of Exposure-Dental Experiences Questionnaire DOI:10.3390/app10031143 | 2020 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Scandurra (2021) The role of cognitive and non‐cognitive factors in dental anxiety: A mediation model DOI:10.1111/eos.12793 | 2021 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Shacham (2022) Psychometric Properties of the Hebrew Modified Dental Anxiety Scale in Adult Israeli Population DOI:10.3390/ijerph19031499 | 2022 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Shacham (2023) Dental anxiety and ageing anxiety: Moderated mediation roles of Oral Health‐Related Quality of Life and subjective accelerated ageing DOI:10.1111/joor.13569 | 2023 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Shivanna (2020) Estimation of Dental Anxiety Levels Before and After Dental Visit in Children with Visual Impairment Using Modified Dental Anxiety Scale… PMID:32181224 | 2020 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Singh (2024) Impact of Dental Anxiety on the Dental Health Status of Nepali Adult Patients DOI:10.1002/cre2.70034 | 2024 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Sirin (2012) What is the most fearful intervention in ambulatory oral surgery? Analysis of an outpatient clinic DOI:10.1016/j.ijom.2012.06.013 | 2012 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Sitheeque (2015) Validation of the <scp>M</scp>alay version of the <scp>M</scp>odified <scp>D</scp>ental <scp>A</scp>nxiety <scp>S</scp>cale and the… DOI:10.1111/jicd.12106 | 2014 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Sivaramakrishnan (2022) The variables associated with dental anxiety and their management in primary care dental clinics in Bahrain: a cross-sectional study DOI:10.1186/s12903-022-02173-7 | 2022 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Sobol (2022) Dental Anxiety as a Risk Factor for Facebook Intrusion DOI:10.1922/cdh_00034sobol04 | 2022 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Steinvik (2023) Delay of Dental Care: An Exploratory Study of Procrastination, Dental Attendance, and Self-Reported Oral Health DOI:10.3390/dj11020056 | 2023 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Suleiman (2021) The effect of dental anxiety on surgical time of mandibular third molar disimpaction DOI:10.4103/njcp.njcp_501_20 | 2021 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Tajirian (2023) Adapting a Dental Anxiety Measure to Encourage Empathy DOI:10.1155/2023/4909993 | 2023 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Tellez (2015) Prevalence and correlates of dental anxiety in patients seeking dental care DOI:10.1111/cdoe.12132 | 2014 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Tolvanen (2017) Translation and validation of the Finnish version of the Index of dental anxiety and fear (IDAF-4C+) among dental students DOI:10.1186/s12903-017-0375-4 | 2017 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Tunc (2005) Reliability and validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in a Turkish population DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0528.2005.00229.x | 2005 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Viinikangas (2009) Dental anxiety and alexithymia: Gender differences DOI:10.1080/00016350802459264 | 2009 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Wu & Buchanan (2020) Translation and validation of the Revised Dental Beliefs Survey (DBS-R) in China DOI:10.1080/13548506.2019.1668568 | 2019 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Yao (2023) Rational thinking as a mediator of the relationship between mindfulness and dental anxiety DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-28879-4 | 2023 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Yuan (2020) Communication, Trust and Dental Anxiety: A Person-Centred Approach for Dental Attendance Behaviours DOI:10.3390/dj8040118 | 2020 | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
| Yubiliana (2021) matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of MDAS total score | not extracted yet |
Review question
| Element | Planned (methods) | Found (results) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | Any participants who completed the MDAS; no restriction on age, ethnicity, gender, location | Participants completing the MDAS (n=95,588; 49% female; mean age 7.52 to 72.78 years across studies) |
| Intervention | Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) five-item total score, 5-point Likert format | MDAS total score (118 studies, 128 alpha coefficients) |
| Comparison | Not applicable (reliability generalization); subgroups compared by moderator levels | Not applicable |
| Outcomes | Cronbach alpha internal consistency of the MDAS total score (pooled alpha with 95% CI and PI); measurement-error proportion (1 minus alpha); reliability induction rate | Pooled Cronbach alpha 0.882 (95% CI 0.873 to 0.889; 95% PI 0.759 to 0.942); measurement error 0.118; induction rate 76.1% |
| Study designs | Peer-reviewed English-language articles and unpublished theses reporting overall Cronbach alpha for the MDAS, 1995 to 2025 | 118 English-language studies (k=128 alpha coefficients), published 2000 to 2025, including 3 theses |
| Timing | Not specified | Not specified |