157 - Why Parents Refuse Dental Treatment Under General Anesthesia for Their Children

The main purpose of this qualitative study conducted at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Pediatric Dentistry is to understand the reasons why parents refuse general anesthesia (GA) as a modality to deliver dental treatment to their children. Secondly, due to the multi-cultural backgrounds of the patients seen at UCSF, the study also aims to identify and compare whether concerns regarding general anesthesia differ from one family to another due to differences in their racial or ethnic backgrounds.
A total of 20 caregivers agreed to participate in the study, but only 11 followed through to complete the phone interviews. The interviews ranged from twenty to forty-five minutes long and were conducted through Zoom. Two researchers conducted the interview either in English or Spanish. Each interview was recorded, translated into the English language if necessary, transcribed, then analyzed using Dedoose software.
The reasons caregivers refused GA for their children are: Fear of Medical Risk (Main factor), Media Influence, Family/Friend Influence, and Child’s Age. These reasons were the same across culture, background, age, and education level of participating parents. Healthcare providers seeking to guide parents on picking the best modality to complete dental treatment are advised to proactively talk to guardians about their fears and concerns around GA and be prepared to provide additional information and education on those topics, and support guardians through the decision-making process.