Reliability and Validity of the Italian Version of the Protocol of Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (I-OMES)

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Italian OMES (I-OMES). Patients and Methods: The study consisted of 3 phases: (1) internal consistency and reliability, (2) validity, and (3) responsiveness analysis. The recruited population included 27 patients with orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD) and 174 healthy volunteers. Forty-seven subjects, 18 healthy and all recruited patients with OMD were assessed for inter-rater and test-retest reliability analysis. I-OMES and Nordic Orofacial Test – Screening (NOT-S) scores of the patients were correlated for concurrent validity analysis. I-OMES scores from 27 patients with OMD and 27 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were compared to investigate construct validity. I-OMES scores before and after successful swallowing rehabilitation in patients were compared for responsiveness analysis. Results: Adequate internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.71) and strong inter-rater and test-retest reliability (intraclass coefficient correlation = 0.97 and 0.98, respectively) were found. I-OMES and NOT-S scores significantly and inversely correlated (r = –0.38). A statistical significance (p < 0.001) was found between the pathological group and the control group for the total I-OMES score. The mean I-OMES score improved from 90 (78–102) to 99 (89–103) after myofunctional rehabilitation (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The I-OMES is a reliable and valid tool to evaluate OMD.