A prospective study of the validity of data on self-reported dental visits.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the validity of self-reported dental visits from a diverse sample of adults.


METHODS
The Florida Dental Care Study was a longitudinal cohort study of a diverse sample of residents of north Florida, USA. In-person interviews and dental examinations were conducted at baseline, 24 and 48 months after baseline, with half-yearly telephone interviews in between. Dental record information was abstracted afterward.


RESULTS
Agreement between self-report and dental record at each half-yearly interview ranged from 84 to 91%. Validity did not differ between persons of key sociodemographic groups (sex, race, age group, rural/urban residence, poverty status, level of formal education, or problem-oriented/regular approach to dental care). In a single bivariate multiple logistic regression (two outcomes: (i) self-reported use; and (ii) use measured from the dental chart), odds ratio estimates over-lapped for each of the 20 predictors.


CONCLUSIONS
Validity of self-reported dental care use was good. There would have been few differences in conclusions made about predictors of dental care use had chart data been available earlier.
Gilbert
Gregg H
GH
Department of Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA. ghg@uab.edu
Rose
John S
JS
Shelton
Brent J
BJ
D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D003710:Demography; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003792:Dental Records; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires