DefinePK

Research Objective

To determine the prevalence and severity of gag reflex at the initial appointment of patients visiting the Department of Prosthodontics using the Gag Severity Index (GSI) tool.

Methodology

Cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Prosthodontics, Islamabad Dental Hospital, from November 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023. 150 patients aged 18 to 85 years who presented with a gag reflex were included. Data on age, gender, educational levels, and gag severity grades were collected using a pre-designed proforma and analyzed using SPSS version 22. The Gag Severity Index (GSI) tool by Fiske and Dickinson was used to categorize gag reflex severity into five grades.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD;
    A["Ethical Approval & Study Design"] --> B["Patient Recruitment & Consent"];
    B --> C["Data Collection"Demographics, GSI""];
    C --> D["Data Entry & Analysis SPSS v22"];
    D --> E["Gag Reflex Prevalence & Severity Assessment"];
    E --> F["Interpretation of Results"];
    F --> G["Conclusion & Recommendations"];                    

Discussion

The study confirms a higher prevalence of gag reflex in female patients, potentially due to smaller jaw sizes and increased psychological sensitivity. The findings align with previous research indicating gender-based differences. While educational levels were analyzed, statistical analysis did not show a significant comparison of gag severity scores among different educational backgrounds. The broad age range and interdisciplinary applicability are noted strengths. The study did not assess treatment options for gag reflex management.

Key Findings

The prevalence of gag reflex was 55.14% among 272 patients. Of the 150 patients who gagged, 61 were males (40.66%) and 89 were females (59.3%), indicating a higher prevalence in females. Gag severity grades were: Grade I (40.0%), Grade II (32.7%), Grade III (20.0%), Grade IV (6.7%), and Grade V (0.7%). Grade I was most prevalent in the 18-40 and 61-85 age groups, while Grade II was most prevalent in the 41-60 age group. Patients with university-level education or above showed a higher prevalence of hyperactive gag reflex.

Conclusion

Female patients exhibit a higher prevalence of gag reflex than male patients, with Grade I being the most common severity. While a definitive solution is not yet established, effective patient education, motivation, and diligent dental practice can lead to productive management and future treatment exploration.

Fact Check

1. Prevalence of Gag Reflex: The study reported a prevalence of gag reflex of 55.14% among the 272 patients presenting at the department.
2. Gender Distribution of Gagging Patients: Out of 150 patients who gagged, 61 were males (40.66%) and 89 were females (59.3%).
3. Distribution of Gag Severity Grades: Grade I gag reflex was observed in 60 patients (40.0%), Grade II in 49 patients (32.7%), Grade III in 30 patients (20.0%), Grade IV in 10 patients (6.7%), and Grade V in 1 patient (0.7%).

Mind Map