Validation of the Chinese version of the Caries Impacts and Experiences Questionnaire for Children (CARIES-QC).

Abstract

The Caries Impacts and Experiences Questionnaire for Children (CARIES-QC) is a newly developed child-centred caries-specific quality of life measure. We aimed to translate and adapt the CARIES-QC into Chinese and to validate the Chinese version of the CARIES-QC (CARIES-QC/C). The CARIES-QC/C was first produced according to international guidelines. Then, the CARIES-QC/C was distributed to children with active dental caries to evaluate its psychometric properties. Reliability of the CARIES-QC/C was investigated by internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Cross-cultural validity and convergent validity were performed to analyse the validity of the CARIES-QC/C. Cross-cultural validity was investigated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A total of 206 children were recruited. Cronbach's alpha value of the CARIES-QC/C was .942, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the measure was .830. The CARIES-QC/C had an acceptable fit to the data in the one-factor model as confirmed by the CFA. The model fit parameters were chi-square/DF=2.15, RMSEA=0.07, GFI=0.92, CFI=0.98, and TLI=0.96. For the convergent validity of the CARIES-QC/C, the measure evidenced good relationship with the global question. The CARIES-QC/C displays good reliability and validity through strict performance tests. This measure may be used as an effective tool in future clinical trials.