An evaluation of a new measure of oral health related quality of life--OHQoL-UK(W).
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to test the reliability and validity of an instrument used to measure the impact of oral health on quality of life.


METHODS
The instrument tested was the indicator OHQoL-UK(W), which was developed, based on a general UK population's perceptions of how oral health affects life quality. OHQoL-UK(W) consists of a battery of 16 questions, which takes into account both 'effect' and 'impact' of oral health on life quality, incorporating dimensions and an individualised weighting system. A questionnaire containing the indicator was administered to a sample of 500 adults. Determining associations between OHQoL-UK(W) scores, socio-demographic and self-reported oral health status assessed its construct validity. The criterion validity of the indicator was assessed in the absence of a 'gold standard' by correlating OHQoL-UK(W) scores to self-rating of oral health status. The internal reliability of the indicator was assessed using Cronbach's alpha.


RESULTS
The response rate was 78%. Associations between OHQoL-UK(W) scores and self-reported number of natural teeth (P<0.01) and denture status (P<0.01) supported the construct validity of the indicator. In addition, OHQoL-UK(W) scores were associated with socio-demographic factors; age (P<0.05), employment status (P<0.01) and ethnicity (P<0.05). The instrument was also associated with self-rating of oral health status (P<0.01), supporting the criterion validity of the indicator. The internal reliability was high with a Cronbach alpha value of 0.94.


CONCLUSIONS
OHQoL-UK (W) appears to be a valid and reliable measure for assessing the impact of oral health on life quality.
McGrath
C
C
Periodontology and Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Philip Dental Hospital, University of Hong Kong, China.
Bedi
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R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003817:Dentition; D003778:Dentures; D004435:Eating; D004651:Employment; D005006:Ethnicity; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom