title: [Validity and utility of self-perceived need for dental treatment by adults and elderly].
abstract: This study aimed to determine the validity of self-rated measures as an indicator of dental treatment needs in adults and the elderly. The sample consisted of individuals that participated in the National Oral Health Survey and the Survey on Oral Health Conditions in Minas Gerais State. Self-rated needs for dental treatment and total prostheses were compared to need based on dental examination, defined as the gold standard. The quality of measures was assessed by sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. Sensitivity varied from 51% to 90%, and specificity from 56% to 90%. Positive predictive values were 11% to 95% and negative predictive values were 23% to 99%. Self-rated need for dental treatment in adults and for total prostheses in the elderly showed acceptable validity. Meanwhile, self-rated need for dental treatment in the elderly and for total prostheses in adults were not considered useful, due to their low performance.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, BR.
authors.forename: Alex Rodrigues do
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, BR.
authors.forename: Fabíola Bof de
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, BR.
authors.forename: Cibele Comini
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: César
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D017266:Dental Prosthesis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors