A Reliable and Valid Survey to Predict a Patient’s Gagging Intensity

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to devise a reliable and valid survey to predict the intensity of someone's gag reflex. MATERIAL AND METHODS A 10-question Predictive Gagging Survey was created, refined, and tested on 59 undergraduate participants. The questions focused on risk factors and experiences that would indicate the presence and strength of someone's gag reflex. Reliability was assessed by administering the survey to a group of 17 participants twice, with 3 weeks separating the two administrations. Finally, the survey was given to 25 dental patients. In these cases, patients completed an informed consent form, filled out the survey, and then had a maxillary impression taken while their gagging response was quantified from 1 to 5 on the Fiske and Dickinson Gagging Intensity Index. RESULTS There was a moderate positive correlation between the Predictive Gagging Survey and Fiske and Dickinson's Gagging Severity Index, r = +0.64, demonstrating the survey's validity. Furthermore, the test-retest reliability was r = +0.96, demonstrating the survey's reliability. CONCLUSIONS The Predictive Gagging Survey is a 10-question survey about gag-related experiences and behaviours. We established that it is a reliable and valid method to assess the strength of someone's gag reflex.