Changes in Adolescents’ Oral Health Status: Responsiveness of the Child Perception Questionnaire11–14

Abstract

Changes in oral health status following treatment should be assessed clinically as well as by patients’ reported outcomes. This study investigated changes on oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of adolescents enrolled in a comprehensive oral health care program for caries and gingival conditions. The sensitivity of the Child Perception Questionnaire_11–14 (CPQ_11–14) to detect clinical changes, that is, its responsiveness, was assessed. A total of 618 10–15-year adolescents answered the questionnaire before treatment and 560 at follow-up after 1 year. In the follow-up, 2 additional global transition judgment questions were asked. The adolescents were clinically and radiographically examined. At the baseline, 374 adolescents needed only nonoperative treatment, whereas 274 needed non- and operative treatments. After 1 year, the adolescents were regrouped according to the fulfillment of their treatment needs in Group 1 (n = 363) needing/receiving nonoperative treatment only; Group 2 (n = 98) needing/receiving both non- and operative treatments; Group 3 (n = 99) receiving nonoperative treatment only, while needing also operative treatment. The CPQ_11–14 total mean change scores by the global transition judgment on self-perceived oral health status indicated significant differences (p < 0.001, ANOVA; internal responsiveness). The effect of the program for the treatment groups was significant (p = 0.014, ANCOVA; external responsiveness). The effect size for the change scores was of moderate magnitude. In conclusion, an overall improvement of adolescents’ OHRQoL was observed following 1-year oral health care program for caries and gingival conditions. The CPQ_11–14 was internally and externally sensitive to detect substantial clinical changes. The CPQ_11–14 seems appropriate for measuring long-term changes on adolescents’ OHRQoL.