Perception and Attitude among Patients Receiving Local Anaesthesia in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India: A Questionnaire-based Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Dental local anaesthesia serves several purposes, the most common of which is to minimise pain during dental procedures, thereby improving patient comfort and facilitating treatment. It can also have therapeutic effects, such as temporarily relieving pulpitis pain. Patients often experience anxiety before and after receiving local anaesthesia. Aim: To evaluate the perceptions and attitudes of patients receiving local anaesthesia through a self-administered questionnaire. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 398 patients, including 218 males and 180 females, between August 2022 and October 2022, who underwent dental extractions at a dental hospital in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, India. A 15-item questionnaire was administered to the patients. The questionnaire comprised three domains: the first domain included questions before the administration of local anaesthesia, the second domain included questions during the administration of local anaesthesia, and the third domain included questions after the administration of local anaesthesia. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results: Of the participants, 126 (40.20%) were between 46 and 60 years of age. Males constituted 218 (54.8%) and females constituted 180 (45.2%) of the sample. Additionally, 76.38% of the patients were unaware of the preinjection topical anaesthesia. Moreover, 70.35% of patients experienced anxiety before the administration of local anaesthesia. During the administration of local anaesthesia, 300 (75.4%) of patients reported experiencing moderate pain. Many patients exhibited physical manifestations of fear, including sweating in 92 (23.12%), light-headedness in 102 (25.63%), and palpitations after the administration of local anaesthesia in 190 (47.74%). Conclusion: Anxiety was more prevalent among patients prior to the administration of local anaesthesia. Patients were more anxious about the fear of the injection rather than the fear of the extraction itself. The outcomes of anaesthesia may be significantly improved by educating patients about dental treatment processes.