PERSUASIVE METHOD TO LESSEN FEAR OF DENTISTS

PENANG (Malaysia), June 4 (Bernama) -- A Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
(University Science of Malaysia) researcher has
crafted the first ever persuasive method to help children overcome their fear of
dentists and dental treatment.

Its Centre of Instructional Technology and Multimedia lecturer, Dr Wan Ahmad
Jaafar Wan Yahaya, said he had created the Persuasive Multimedia Learning
Environment (PMLE) which uses a CD-ROM and multimedia to build confidence in
children going for dental check-ups.

"PMLE combines the principle of persuasive technology with educational
material by using the CD-ROM application which has a multimedia base.

"This product can help parents or teachers motivate and lessen the worries
of children aged between 6 and 9 about visiting the dentist," he told a news
conference in USM, a local public university situated in northern state of
Penang Thursday.

Present was Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who
visited USM Thursday.

Wan Ahmad Jaafar said his method focused on persuading children to take
care of their teeth.

He said he created characters in the PMLE which could motivate children to
copy the good habits the mother, nurse and dentist.

"These characters will influence them to be have a good and positive
attitude when going to the dentist," he said. Wan Ahmad Jaafar said he also
worked with the Department of Paediatric Dentistry of the Sultanah Bahiyah
Hospital in Alor Star to conduct research on content reference for the best
results.

"So far 80 per cent of the 300 child respondents said the method lessened
their worries on dental treatment. Some even recommended it to their friends,"
he said.

He added that many parties were interested in his method and he was in the
process of patenting it, and the product was expected to hit the market in six
months.

-- BERNAMA