Development and Validation of a "Stress and Coping Assessment Tool Associated with Maintaining Oral Health among Children with Special Health-care Needs".

Background: In our routine pediatric dental practice, many of us encounter parents and caretakers of Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) who complain about the difficulties they face in daily tooth brushing of their children. Some parents may have to accept defeat as their children face overwhelming medical conditions to cater to; ultimately leading to paradigm shift of oral hygiene leading to increase of dental caries and gingival problems.

Aims and objectives: To develop and validate a comprehensive tool that can help us in assessing parent related stressors and coping factors with regard to maintenance of oral hygiene of their children.

Materials and methods: Data related to stress and coping factors encountered during maintenance of oral hygiene of their children and their experiences during the child's dental treatment (if any) were collected from parents of CSHCN. Validation and feedback from content evaluation panel experts were done.

Results: A comprehensive assessment tool with 45 items (29 stresses related items and 16 coping related items) was developed after validation.

Conclusion: We could develop and validate a 'Stress and Coping Assessment Tool associated with maintaining Oral health among Children with Special health care needs' - abbreviated as "SCATOCS" with a hope to benefit and manage oral health care to the referred population.