Use of patient self-report oral health outcome measures in assessment of dental treatment outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the sensitivity of a newly developed brief measure of oral health-related quality of life (OQOL).


METHODS
Self-assessed oral health and OQOL were measured in three groups of patients who had presented for either prophylaxis (n = 32), endodontic care (n = 15), or for a denture (n = 16) in a dental school setting before and after treatment. Main outcome measures included the single-item self-report of oral health (OH-1) and the 6- and 12-item versions of a new OQOL instrument. General linear modeling was used to compute means of self-reported oral health by treatment group.


RESULTS
Of the 63 patients who completed the baseline questionnaire, 44 (70 percent) returned questionnaires after treatment. The sample averaged 43 +/- 15 years, 48 percent male and 55 percent with some college education. Ethnic representation included 35 percent White, 33 percent Black, and 32 percent other - mostly Latino. The mean self-reported number of teeth was 20.6. In terms of sensitivity, significant differences were observed between the treatment groups on the items assessing being upset (P < 0.05), feeling depressed (P < 0.05), and uncomfortable about the appearance of teeth or dentures (P < 0.05). However, magnitude of change, as measured by an effect size, was characterized as minimal to small in the recall and endodontic groups and borderline moderate in the denture group.


CONCLUSIONS
The measure was sensitive to differences within groups, with a small to borderline magnitude of change.
Wright
Wanda G
WG
Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research, Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. wgwright@bu.edu
Jones
Judith A
JA
Spiro
Avron
A
Rich
Sharron E
SE
Kressin
Nancy R
NR
D000328:Adult; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life