title: Evaluation of a self-assessed screening test for masticatory ability of Taiwanese older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate a screening test based on a food intake questionnaire to discriminate the masticatory ability of Taiwanese older adults with 20 and more natural teeth and at least 8 functional tooth units (FTUs) from the masticatory ability of those with fewer than 20 natural teeth and 8 FTUs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 2244 patients (mean age, 60.4±10.0 years) recruited from 23 counties and cities in Taiwan. Information about their demographic data, dentition, and masticatory ability was collected. Masticatory ability was measured for 23 food groups comprising 35 common Taiwanese foods, and receiver operation characteristic curve analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the final questionnaire included 14 food groups and a subject choosing 'difficult to eat' responses for 4 and more of these food groups had the same masticatory ability as individuals with fewer than 20 natural teeth and 8 FTUs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, foods that are the most difficult to eat are not necessarily good discriminatory indicators. Hence, the 14-food group questionnaire can be considered the best screening test for masticatory ability of Taiwanese older adults in terms of the presence of 20 and more natural teeth and at least 8 FTUs.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kun-Jung
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Huey-Er
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shou-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Shun-Te
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chun-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yea-Yin
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000473:pathology; D003442:Crowns; D004245:DMF Index; D000044:Dental Abutments; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003817:Dentition; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan