Longitudinal evaluation of the impact of dental caries treatment on oral health-related quality of life among schoolchildren.
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dental caries treatment on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among schoolchildren and the responsiveness of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ8-10 ) instrument. Brazilian schoolchildren, 8-10 yr of age, were randomly selected and assigned to two groups--dental caries treatment (DCT) and caries-free (CF)--according to their caries experience [decayed, missing, or filled primary teeth (dmft) and decayed, missing or filled secondary teeth (DMFT) values of ≥ 0]. The CPQ8-10 instrument was administered at baseline and at 4 wk of follow-up (i.e. 4 wk after completion of dental treatment). In the DCT group, increases in CPQ8-10 scores were observed between the baseline and follow-up results. However, longitudinal evaluation of the CF group demonstrated no statistically significant difference in CPQ8-10 scores. Responsiveness of the CPQ8-10 instrument (magnitude of change in CPQ8-10 scores) in the DCT group was greater (effect size >0.7) than in the CF group. The findings of this study show that dental caries treatment has an important impact on OHRQoL of children. The CPQ8-10 was considered an acceptable instrument for longitudinal measurement of changes in OHRQoL.
Department of Community Dentistry, Division of Health Education and Health Promotion, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
Janice S
JS
de Paula
Karin L M
KL
Sarracini
Marcelo C
MC
Meneghim
Antônio C
AC
Pereira
Edwin M M
EM
Ortega
Natália S
NS
Martins
Fábio L
FL
Mialhe
D001294:Attitude to Health; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006209:Halitosis / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D009909:Oral Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000523:psychology; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology; D014098:Toothache / Q000523:psychology
dental care; dental caries; longitudinal study; quality of life