Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39885563›Full record

Trial reportBMC research notes2025

Assessment of smartphone-based active distraction in association with audioanalgesia for overcoming airotor-related anxiety in children: a randomized controlled trial.

Kritika Bali, Radhika Ailawadi, Y M Karuna, N Srikant, Ashwin Rao, P Anupama Nayak, Charisma Thimmaiah

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC research notes, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Kritika BaliManipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, India.
Radhika AilawadiManipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, India.
Y M KarunaManipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India. karuna.ym@manipal.edu.
N SrikantManipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Ashwin RaoManipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
P Anupama NayakManipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Charisma ThimmaiahManipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMost children experience distress while visiting a dentist, above which the sound of the airotor and suction machine results in fear and difficulty in performing further procedures.

methodsThis was a randomized controlled parallel-group study of 40 children aged 6-13 years who required cavity preparation via the airotor. The children were randomly allocated to either Group 1 (Piano music app; active distraction combined with audio analgesia) or Group 2 (basic behavioural guidance alone). Self-reported dental anxiety was measured via a modified child dental anxiety scale, and behavior was assessed via Venham's and FLACC (Faces Legs Activity Cry and Consolability) scales. The data obtained were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis.

resultsSelf-reported dental anxiety was significantly lower in group 1 (p < 0.005). No significant difference between the groups was observed for the Venham and FLACC scores.

conclusionCompared with basic behavioural guidance alone, the use of active distraction with audio analgesia in the form of the piano music app significantly decreased the degree of dental anxiety caused by the use of the airotor. This also resulted in clinically better cooperation by the child during cavity preparation.

trial registrationRegistered in the Clinical Trials Registry India (CTRI/2024/07/070160) dated 08/07/2024.

Indexed as

AnalgesiaDental AnxietyMobile ApplicationsMusicSmartphoneAdolescentChildFemaleHumansMaleAudio analgesiaBehaviorDental anxietyDental cavity preparationsPediatric dentistry

Identifiers

PMID39885563
PMCPMC11783720

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.