Dental caries and oral health-related quality of life in Preschoolers – introducing the Swedish version of the early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS)

Abstract

Objective: Experience of caries has a clearly negative impact on the quality of life in preschool children. The instrument Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) measures the oral health-related quality of life in preschool children (Child Impact Section) and their families (Family Impact Section). The aims of the study were to develop a Swedish version of ECOHIS and to evaluate the instrument’s reliability, validity, and internal consistency. Additionally, to analyse the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among preschool children who have experienced caries. Methods: The original ECOHIS questionnaire was translated into Swedish. Caregivers of preschool children aged 2–5 years were recruited at dental clinics in Sweden, to participate in the study and answer the Swedish version of the ECOHIS (S-ECOHIS). The internal consistency and reliability were assessed by using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient. In order to measure the consistency of the study, the questionnaire was re-tested two weeks later for 10 of the caregivers and assessed by using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs). The results from S-ECOHIS were described as descriptive data and independent t-test was performed. All data were calculated using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Results: S-ECOHIS was developed by translating the original English version using a double-blinded technique. A total of 274 caregivers participated in the study and completed the questionnaire. Cronbach’s Alpha was 0.84 for S-ECOHIS, 0.83 for CIS, and 0.66 for FIS. The ICC was 0.95 for the test-retest of S-ECOHIS. Among the respondents, 117 (43%) had children diagnosed with caries, while 157 (57%) had children without caries. The children with caries reported a higher total score of 5.97 (SD 6.16) of S-ECOHIS, compared to the score of the non-caries children 0.77 (SD 1.38) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Swedish version of ECOHIS that was developed demonstrates good validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency. The findings show that the oral health-related quality of life is adversely affected in preschool children with caries, with particular vulnerability observed among children with untreated caries. These results indicate that S-ECOHIS is suitable for use in future clinical and research endeavors.