title: A Global Oral Health Survey of professional opinion using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The concept of oral health is frequently reduced to the absence of disease, despite existing conceptual models exploring the wider determinants of oral health and quality of life. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) (WHO) is designed to qualify functional, social and environmental aspects of health. This survey aimed to reach a consensual description of adult oral health, derived from the ICF using international professional opinion.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Global Oral Health Survey involved a two-round, online survey concerning factors related to oral health including functioning, participation and social environment. Four hundred eighty-six oral health professionals from 74 countries registered online. Professionals were pooled into 18 groups of six WHO world regions and three professional groups. In a randomised stratification process, eight professionals from each pool (n=144) completed the survey. The first round consisted of eight open-ended questions. Open expression replies were analysed for meaningful concepts and linked using established rules to the ICF. In Round 2, items were rated for their relevance to oral health (88% response rate).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-nine ICF items and 30 other factors were considered relevant by at least 80% of participants. International professionals reached consensus on a holistic description of oral health, which could be qualified and quantified using the ICF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results represent the first step towards developing an ICF Core Set in Oral Health, which would provide a practical tool for reporting outcome measures in clinical practice, for research and epidemiology, and for the improvement of interdisciplinary communication regarding oral health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Professional consensus reached in this survey is the foundation stone for developing an ICF Core Set in Oral Health, allowing the holistic aspects of oral health to be qualified and quantified. This tool is necessary to widen our approach to clinical decision making, measurement of clinical outcomes, research and epidemiology.
authors: Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: alison.dougall@dental.tcd.ie.
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Dougall
authors: Escuela de Odontología, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: gfmolina@hotmail.com.
authors: Gustavo F
authors: GF
authors: Molina
authors: Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, EA4847, Centre de Recherche on Odontologie Clinique, F-63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France. Electronic address: caroline.eschevins@udamail.fr.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Eschevins
authors: Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, EA4847, Centre de Recherche on Odontologie Clinique, F-63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France; CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Service d'Odontologie, CH Estaing, F-63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France. Electronic address: denise.faulks@udamail.fr.
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Faulks
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D064702:International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Health personnel; Holistic health; International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; Oral health; Professional opinion; Public health