Children's Oral Health-related Quality Research Articles

Effect of treatment of transverse maxillary deficiency using rapid palatal expansion on oral health-related quality of life in children: complementary results for a controlled clinical trial.

To evaluate the effect of rapid palatal expansion (RPE) using Haas-type expanders on children's oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) and compare said effect with that previously reported for the use of Hyrax-type expanders. Forty participants aged 8-10 years with transverse maxillary deficiency were treated using Haas appliances. OHRQOL was measured using the CPQ8 - 10 before RPE, during RPE (T1), at the end of RPE (T2), and 1 month after appliance removal (T3). Generalized mixed models were fitted to assess the effect of the Haas-type expander compared to previously collected data (a nontreated and a Hyrax-type expander-treated group). RPE with Haas-type appliances had a negative impact on overall OHRQOL at T1 and T2 (P = 0.001), and a positive impact at T3 (P = 0.001). The Haas-type expander had a significantly greater negative impact on OHRQOL than the Hyrax-type appliance during RPE. At T1, overall scores using the Haas-type expander were 1.08 times the scores using the Hyrax-type expander (i.e., 8% increase; 95% CI, 1.01-1.17; P = 0.033). Patients using the Haas appliance had 1.24 times the scores of those using Hyrax-type devices for the oral symptoms domain at T1 (i.e., 24% increase; 95% CI, 1.06-1.46; P = 0.009). Correction of the transverse maxillary deficiency by RPE using the Haas appliance in children 8-10 years improves OHRQOL. The Haas- and Hyrax-type devices temporarily worsen OHRQOL during treatment, however, the negative impact is less with the Hyrax-type expander than with the Haas-type expander, because it causes fewer negative oral symptoms. From a patient-centered perspective, the use of the Hyrax over the Haas appliance may be suggested as it causes less negative oral symptoms during use.

The Child Oral Health Impact Profile-Short Form 19 Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validity for the Portuguese Pediatric Population.

Background/Objectives: To better understand the impact of different oral conditions on children, several instruments are available to measure oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). To adapt and validate cross-culturally the Child Oral Health Impact Profile-Short Form 19 (COHIP-SF19) questionnaire to the Portuguese language. Methods: The COHIP SF-19 was translated and back-translated, and tested for its reliability and for psychometric properties in children who were aged between 8 and 17 years old. The COHIP-19-PT was tested for its internal consistency, construct validity, content validity, and test-retest reliability. Results: The COHIP-19-PT revealed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88) and test-retest reliability (interclass correlation = 0.78). The CFA analysis confirmed the structure of COHIP-19-PT. The first-order model showed an adequate fit: GFI = 0.878; CFI = 0.812; RMSEA = 0.083 (90% CI: 0.077-0.090). No invariance was found for the gender-based groups. The correlation between the sub-scales was also assessed, confirming significant correlations between all subdomains. Conclusions: The COHIP-19-PT is a valid and reliable scale for measuring children's oral health-related quality of life.

Evaluation of Child Oral Health Related Quality of Life in Bleeding Disorders

Abstract Background Oral bleeding is a common symptom for many inherited and acquired bleeding disorders in children. Understanding oral health and treatment needs of patients with bleeding disorders is necessary for patients' primary oral health prevention. Aim of the Work To evaluate the oral health problems in children with bleeding disorders both clinically and with child oral health related quality of life questionnaire score. To assess the effect of intervention (education and any necessary dental procedure) on the child oral health related quality of life questionnaire score. Patients and Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 70 patients aged from (2-18 years), males represent n = 47 (67.1%), females n = 23 (32.9%). Inherited bleeding disorders represent n = 37 (52.9%) and acquired bleeding disorders represent n = 33 (47.1%). ITP n = 33 (47.1%), hemophilia A n = 27 (38.6%), Von Willebrand’s disease n = 7 (10%) and Glanzmann n = 3 (4.3%) and all subjected to full history taking, examination, dental health estimation, oral health education, dental management and replacement therapy as needed at baseline and after 6 months of follow up from October 2021 to April 2022. ITP bleeding score (ISTH SSC bleeding assessment tool) used to assess severity of ITP patients. Child oral health related quality of life and child oral health impact profile questionnaires were filled by patients/parents at base line and after 6 months follow up. Results The current study revealed that (57.1%) of patients have dental caries. Regarding oral hygiene status, (10%) of patients have poor oral hygiene. Regarding gingival health, (50%) of patients have moderate gingivitis and (11.4%) have severe gingivitis. Oral symptomatology, Psychological domain for child, Psychological domain for family, Social domain for child and Total oral health score were significantly affected more with long duration of disease (p-value =0.0005, 0.0015, 0.010, 0.022 and 0.0045 respectively). There was statistically significant improvement in oral health related quality of life questionnaire score after 6 months of follow up with total oral health score (p-value = 0.000). Conclusion Oral health was significantly affected among patients with acquired and inherited bleeding disorders. Oral health education and management had significant impact on oral health related quality of life scores after 6 months of follow up.

Impact of dental sedation treatment on the oral health-related quality of life of distressed young children: A secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

Little is known regarding the impact of dental treatment under sedation on distressed young children's oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). To evaluate the impact of dental treatment under sedation on the OHRQoL of children and their families. Caregivers of two-to-six-year-old children answered the Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS): (1) before treatment under sedation (T0), (2) two weeks (T1) and (3) 3 months after the completion of treatment (T2). A global transition judgment was included in the posttreatment evaluations to determine the perception of changes in OHRQoL after dental treatment. Bivariate analysis was performed. Changes in scores and effect sizes (ES) were calculated. Reductions were found at both posttreatment evaluations in the total B-ECOHIS scores (median [25th-75th percentile] at T0: 14 [9.8-21.7]; T1: 2.0 [0.0-5.1]; T2: 2.0 [0.0-6.7]); "child impact" section (T0: 8.8 [4.0-13.1]; T1: 0.0 [0.0-2.2]; T2: 0.0 [0.0-4.3]) and "family impact" section (T0: 6.0 [4.0-8.5]; T1: 0.0 [0.0-2.0]; T2: 0.0 [0.0-2.0]) (≤0.001; large ES). In 92.3% of cases at T1 and 88.3% at T2, caregivers reported that their child's oral health improved considerably. Dental treatment under sedation significantly improved the OHRQoL of the children and their families.

Examine the Relationship between DMFT Index, Enamel Defects, and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Celiac Disease

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder that harms the epithelium and lamina propria of the small intestine in genetically predisposed individuals. Celiac disease negatively affects oral and dental health. Objectives: This research explored the DMFT index and enamel defects (ED), as well as their association with oral health-related quality of life in children with CD. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, 50 children with CD (case group) and 50 healthy children (control group) were examined. The World Health Organization criteria were used to determine the DMFT index. Aine's classification was employed to diagnose ED, and the standard CHILD-Oral Impacts on Daily Performances scale was used to assess child oral health-related quality of life (COHRQoL). The Chi-Square test and Mann-Whitney test were utilized for data comparison. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The average DMFT was 2.58 ± 2.39 in the case group and 2.08 ± 1.61 in the control group. According to the Mann-Whitney U test, this difference was not statistically significant (P = .223). The frequency of ED in the case group was significantly higher at 52%, compared to 16% in the control group (P < .001). Additionally, there was a significant difference in the frequency of ED between boys and girls in the two groups (P < .001). The COHRQoL score in the case group, with an average of 24.44 ± 19.91, was significantly higher than that in the control group, which had an average of 13.35 ± 13.65 (P = .002). In both the case and control groups, a significant positive relationship was observed between the COHRQoL score in children and the DMFT index (P < .001). There was also a significant relationship between the COHRQoL score in children with ED in both the case and control groups (P = 0.004). Conclusions: According to the results, there was no difference in the DMFT index between the 2 groups. However, as the DMFT index increased in both groups, the COHRQoL score also increased. The number of ED cases was higher in celiac patients, and this had a significant effect on the COHRQoL score. Additionally, the COHRQoL score was higher in celiac patients compared to the control group.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of a self-administered Urdu version of the child oral impacts on daily performances index among 11-12-year-old children in Lahore, Pakistan.

The Child Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (Child-OIDP) index was developed to assess children's oral health-related quality of life. This study aimed to culturally adapt the self-administered Child-OIDP index into Urdu, evaluate its psychometric properties, and provide an initial estimate of oral impacts among 11-12-year-old children in Lahore, Pakistan. The translation of the Child-OIDP index from English to Urdu was performed, and the content and face validity of the initial Urdu version were evaluated by experts and 11-12-year-old children, respectively. The psychometric properties of the Urdu Child-OIDP were assessed by administering the index to 264 children aged 11-12 from five schools in the Lahore district. Psychometric properties were evaluated using criterion and construct validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and global self-rated oral items, followed by an oral examination. The standardized Cronbach's alpha was 0.77, and the weighted Kappa was 0.94 (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.98). The index exhibited significant associations with subjective outcome measures, dental problem history, and dental caries status (p = 0.001). Children reporting poor oral health, lower satisfaction with oral health, and experiencing oral impacts demonstrated higher Child-OIDP scores. Additionally, children with dental caries and perceived treatment needs exhibited higher Child-OIDP scores, indicating poorer Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL). The prevalence of oral impacts was 88.3% (mean score = 17.8, standard deviation (SD) =14.7). Eating performance was the most affected while speaking was the performance least affected, while toothache and sensitive teeth were identified as the two most common causes of oral impacts. Toothache was the primary cause of condition-specific impacts, responsible for the majority of oral impacts. This study demonstrates that the self-administered Urdu Child-OIDP index is a valid and reliable tool for assessing OHRQoL among 11-12-year-old children in Lahore, Pakistan.

Change in oral health-related behaviours of children before and after dental treatments under general anaesthesia.

This study evaluated the behavioural changes pertaining to children's oral health before and after the dental general anaesthesia (DGA), with particular focus on the factors associated with these changes. The records were collected for the children who received DGA from July 2015 to November 2016, and relevant questionnaires were obtained from their parents/guardians for the information prior to and after the DGA. The questionnaire included Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) and Dental Subscale of Children's Fear Survey Schedule (CFSS-DS) to investigate the changes in Oral Health-related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) and dental fear. The DGA impact on children's oral hygiene habits and oral health-related behaviours was assessed by analysing the data. The chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test were employed to evaluate the differences. Total of 141 patients (89 before DGA and 77 after DGA, 25 being common) participated in this study. There were 60 children below 5 years and 29 over 5 years before DGA, while 41 children below 5 years and 36 over 5 years after DGA. Most parents/guardians were educated above undergraduate level (59.6% before DGA, 55.8% after DGA). More children lived with grandparents (61.8% before DGA, 54.5% after DGA) than only with parents (20.2% before DGA, 26.0% after DGA). In total, 73.0% (65/89) children before DGA brushed teeth more than twice a day. This proportion increased to 90.9% after DGA (70/77, p = 0.03). The eating difficulty decreased after DGA according to ECOHIS (p = 0.01). CFSS-DS score also decreased after DGA (p < 0.05). After DGA, children's oral hygiene habits and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) improved, children fear for dental treatment decreased, and parents became more attentive towards children oral health.

Comparison of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS-4D) and Child Health Utility Index (CHU-9D) in children with oral diseases.

Accurate assessment of child oral health is important for guiding economic evaluations and informing healthcare decision-making. Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS-4D) is a preference-based instrument that measures the oral health-related quality of life of young children. The aim of this study was to compare the utility scores of ECOHIS-4D and Child Health Utility Index (CHU-9D), against an oral health indicator to evaluate which utility score corresponds better with the oral health indicator. The ECOHIS-4D and CHU-9D were applied to 314 parent/child dyads from preschools in a primary healthcare setting in Perth, Western Australia. Four parameters were used to assess which instrument corresponds better with the oral health indicator (decayed, missing and filled teeth score-dmft score): (i) discrimination, the ability to discriminate between different clinical severity groups, (ii) external responsiveness, how much the utility values relate to the changes in dmft scores, (iii) correlation, the association between the two instruments and the related dimensions and (iv) differences in the utility values across the two instruments. Most participants (81%) were 2-6 years old, and nearly 50% had a dmft score <3. ECOHIS-4D demonstrated a superior ability to differentiate between dmft severity groups and respond to changes in dmft scores. A significant weak correlation was observed between dmft and ECOHIS-4D (-0.26, 95%, CI -0.36 to -0.15) compared to a non-significant very poor correlation between dmft and CHU-9D (0.01, 95% CI -0.12 to 0.10). The utility scores of the two instruments had relatively good agreement towards good health and weak agreement towards poor health. ECOHIS-4D, the oral health-specific instrument, is more sensitive in assessing children's oral health-related quality of life than the generic CHU-9D. Thus, ECOHIS-4D is more appropriate for utility estimates in economic evaluations of oral health-related interventions and resource allocation decision-making.

Association of children's oral health and school environment on academic performance in 12-year-old schoolchildren of Quito, Ecuador.

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate if children's oral health and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) were associated with school performance. Moreover, the study aimed to examine whether school environment factors influenced this association. This cross-sectional study was based on a population-based sample of 998 12-year-old schoolchildren from 31 public schools in Quito, Ecuador. Trained and calibrated examiners conducted clinical exams for dental caries, dental trauma and malocclusion. Furthermore, children completed the Spanish version of the Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ11-14 ), and their parents answered questions about socio-economic status. School coordinators provided information on the physical environment, promotion of health practices and the occurrence of negative episodes in the school. There were three outcomes: grades obtained in Spanish language and mathematics and the number of missed school days. Multilevel linear and Poisson regression models were conducted using a hierarchical approach to include the variables guided by a previously created direct acyclic graph. Children with dental trauma and higher CPQ11-14 scores showed lower grades and school attendance. Schoolchildren from schools with episodes of vandalism had more school days missed. The school performance of 12-year-old children is affected by dental trauma and by a worse OHRQoL, as well as a negative school environment. Therefore, supportive environments and promoting health measures in schools could overcome this worse academic performance in children with oral health problems.

Impact of parental attributes on the oral health-related quality of life of Brazilian preschool children.

Considering the importance of parental attitudes and their influence on children's oral health, it is important to know which characteristics may impact it. The aim of this population study was to evaluate the impact of the parental sociodemographic characteristics on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of preschool children from southeastern Brazil. A population-based study was conducted with a sample of 321 children aged 2 to 5years old who underwent a calibrated clinical oral examination to assess oral health status and their parents were asked to answer the two following questionnaires: (1) sociodemographic conditions and (2) Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS). Descriptive analysis, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests and adjusted Poisson regression models were used. Younger mothers (RP: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.11-1.95), lower household income (RP: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.11-1.96) and the presence of dental caries (RP: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.74-3.0) were more likely to have a negative impact on the OHRQoL B-ECOHIS total scores (P < 0.01). The characteristics of mothers, such as age, schooling and salary, influenced the mean B-ECOHIS total score; however, paternal attributes were not associated with a negative impact on the children's quality of life. Also, dental caries and household income influenced the children's oral health-related quality of life.

The Associations among Dental Anxiety, Self-Esteem, and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The current evidence on the relationships among child oral health-related quality of life, dental anxiety, and self-esteem indicates that we need to investigate these relationships to improve our understanding of the associations. Therefore, the current research aimed to enhance this evidence and provide an overview of the participating children's oral-health-related quality of life (as measured by the CPQ8-10), self-esteem (as measured by the Coopersmith SEI-SF), and dental anxiety (as measured by the CFSS_DS) and how these child-related outcome measures interacted and were related to one another. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of school children (n = 1900) aged 8 to 10 years. The questionnaire was collected through validated self-report measures: dental anxiety, COHRQoL, and self-esteem. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the strength of the association of our model to explore the relationships among these three psychological constructs. The moderating effects of age, gender, location, and the educational board were analysed for their possible influence on these relationships. Significant relationships between COHRQoL and child dental anxiety and between COHRQoL and SE were detected. The relationship subscale between COHRQoL and child dental anxiety was 0.24, (p < 0.001). A stronger correlation between COHRQoL, and SE was found, with B = -0.77, (p < 0.001). Although the association between CDA and SE was small, it was statistically significant (p = 0.03). These findings provide some important background information for designing effective educational programs for children.

Oral health-related quality of life and oral manifestations of Syrian children with congenital heart disease: a case-control study

BackgroundThere was an immense need for studies evaluating the oral health status of Syrian children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and its impact on their quality of life. No contemporary data are available. The objective of this study was to investigate oral manifestations and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children with CHD and compare them with healthy controls aged 4–12 years.MethodsA case-control study was undertaken. A total of 200 patients with CHD and 100 healthy children belonging to the same patient’s family were included. Decayed, missed, and filled permanent teeth index (DMFT) and decayed, missed, and filled primary teeth index (dmft), Oral Hygiene Index (OHI), Papillary Marginal Gingivitis Index (PMGI), and dental abnormalities were recorded. The Arabic version of the Child Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (COHRQoL, 36-item) which was divided into 4 different domains (Oral Symptoms, Functional Limitations, Emotional Well-Being, Social Well-Being) were studied. Chi-square test and independent- t-test were used to perform statistical analysis.ResultsCHD patients experienced more periodontitis, dental caries, poor oral health, and enamel defects. The dmft mean was significantly higher in CHD patients than in healthy children (5.245 vs. 2.660, P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between patients and controls in the DMFT Mean (P = 0.731). There was a significant difference between CHD patients and healthy children in the mean of the OHI (5.954 vs. 1.871, P < 0.05), and PMGI (1.689 vs. 1.170, P < 0.05). CHD patients have significantly higher enamel opacities (8% vs. 2%) and hypocalcification (10.5% vs. 2%) than controls. Also, the 4 COHRQoL domains, showed significant differences between CHD children and controls.ConclusionsEvidence about the oral health and COHRQoL of children with CHD was provided. Further preventive measures are still required to improve the health and quality of life of this vulnerable group of children.

Agreement between schoolchildren and their parents on rating the child's oral health-related quality of life.

The perceptions of parents/caregivers regarding their children's oral health can influence the standard of care and decision-making regarding oral health. The children's perspective on their own oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) may differ from the parents/caregivers' views. This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the agreement between the perceptions of parents/caregivers and schoolchildren regarding OHRQoL. It was conducted with a sample of children between 8 and 11 years old and their parents/caregivers from Pelotas. Children answered the Child Perceptions Questionnaire 8-10 (CPQ), and parents/caregivers answered the short form of the Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ). Socioeconomic data were also collected. Children's dental caries, traumatic dental injuries, and malocclusions were examined. The Spearman's correlation test was performed. A total of 119 parents/caregivers-children pairs were included. There was an agreement between the total scores of parents/caregivers and children (0.2770; p = 0.003), in the oral symptoms (0.1907; p = 0.038), and functional limitations (0.2233; p=0.015) domains. The Bland-Altman graph showed an agreement between children's and parents/caregivers' OHRQoL total score, but there was an underestimation of approximately two points in the parents/caregivers' perception compared to the children's score. There was an agreement between the reports of parents/caregivers and children regarding children's OHRQoL.

Impact of dental caries severity and activity on oral health-related quality of life among children aged 8-11 years.

Caries disease can lead to strong impact in terms of pain and suffering, to functional impairment, and to negative effects on quality of life. Studies have demonstrated that the impact on quality of life increases with dental caries severity, and few studies have assessed the relationship between caries activity and children's oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of dental caries severity and activity on the OHRQoL of schoolchildren. The study was conducted with a sample of children aged 8 to 11 years from Pelotas, southern Brazil. Children answered the Child Perceptions Questionnaire 8-10, and socioeconomic data were collected. Children's dental caries (Kappa value of 0.95), PUFA, traumatic dental injuries, and malocclusion were examined. The Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Poisson regression tests were performed. A total of 119 children were included. Children with initial (mean ratio (MR) of 1.92; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 1.05-3.48), moderate (MR: 2.66; 95%CI: 1.44-4.90), and severe carious lesions (MR: 2.65; 95%CI: 1.46-4.79) had a greater impact on OHRQoL compared with those without carious lesions (p =0 .047). Children with active carious lesions exhibited a greater impact on OHRQoL (MR:1.53 and 95%CI: 1.11-2.11) when compared to those without active lesions (p = 0.019). The findings demonstrate an association between dental caries severity and activity and the OHRQoL of school-aged children.

Can malocclusion among children impact their oral health-related quality of life? parents' perspective.

Malocclusion can negatively impact the quality of life of children. Therefore, this study assesses the impact of proxy-reported malocclusion and oral health-related quality of life among children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from the parents or guardians' perspectives. A self-administered electronic questionnaire was used to assess the correlation between proxy-reported malocclusion conditions during the early mixed dentition stage (children age 6-12 years) and oral health-related quality of life using the OHIP-14 measure. All collected data were analyzed using SPSS. Among the 353 participants in the study, anterior open-bite was the most common proxy-reported malocclusion with a prevalence of 19%, followed by unilateral posterior cross bite (13.3%). Furthermore, 31% reported that their children sometimes experienced negative impacts on quality of life from malocclusions. The results also show that OHIP-14 scores were significantly associated with all proxy-reported malocclusion (p < 0.05). The highest OHIP-14 score was found to be significantly associated with the presence of deep-bite from parents' or guardians' perspective. The presence of some proxy-assessed malocclusion was associated with negative impacts on children's oral health-related quality of life. This is very important to consider when assessing the need for orthodontic intervention, especially at this stage as this age is critical in building a child's confidence and self-esteem.

Effect of molar incisor hypomineralization on oral health-related quality of life in children and adolescents: a systematic review

Hypersensitivity, altered dental appearance and fractures are common problems in molar incisor hypomineralization that generate functional and socio-emotional problems. to evaluate the effect of MIH on oral health-related quality of life in children and adolescents. A systematic bibliographic search was carried out in electronic databases (Pubmed, Epistemonikos, Dentistry & Oral Sciences Source and Virtual Health Library). Observational studies in English or Spanish conducted between 2016-2022 that evaluated the quality of life of children and adolescents with molar incisor hypomineralization were identified. Most studies were of good methodological quality. Of 96 identified studies, thirteen were included in the synthesis. The most frequent diagnostic criterion for hypomineralization of molar incisors was the index of the European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and nine studies reported the severity of the disease. The most widely used scale to measure quality of life was the Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ). According to the children's perception, the most affected dimensions were "Oral Symptoms" and "Emotional Well-Being", according to the parents they were "Oral Symptoms" and "Functional Limitations". Girls with molar incisor hypomineralization had worse oral health-related quality of life. The negative effect of molar incisor hypomineralization on children's oral health-related quality of life seems to vary between the perception of parents and children.

A network psychometric validation of the Children Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (COHQoL) questionnaire among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children.

In Australia, research evidence has shown that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children experience a higher burden of oral health diseases compared to other non-Indigenous children. The impact of oral health diseases on children’s functional and psychosocial outcomes led to the development of several instruments to evaluate child oral health-related quality of life (COHQoL), such as the Parental-Caregiver Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and the Family Impact Scale (FIS). However, the psychometric properties of these instruments have been evaluated only in Western cultures and have not been investigated for Aboriginal children in Australia. The current study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the short-forms P-CPQ and FIS for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children aged 2–3 years. Data were collected from the South Australian Aboriginal Birth Cohort (SAABC), including 270 Aboriginal children aged 2–3 years. Network psychometric models were used to investigate dimensionality, item redundancy, structural consistency and item stability, model fit, internal consistency reliability and criterion validity. We propose an instrument named Aboriginal Children’s Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (A-COHQoL). Our findings indicated that, after the exclusion of four problematic items, the A-COHQoL showed a three-dimensional structure (“Parent/Family Activities”, “COHQoL” and “Family Conflict”) with good model fit and reliability. The A-COHQoL is a psychometrically robust and sensitive instrument that is readily available for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children aged 2–3 years in Australia and can be adapted in the future for Indigenous child groups in other countries.

Relationship between oral health literacy of caregivers and the oral health-related quality of life of children: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundOral health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate oral health decisions. However, scientific evidence about the oral health literacy of caregivers and the children’s oral health-related quality of life. The purpose of this study was to verify the relationship between the level of oral health literacy of caregivers and the children's oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL).MethodsThis study was conducted with children aged 2 to 4 in Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil. Six hundred thirty children were examined to assess the prevalence of dental caries (dmft index). Parents were interviewed to obtain sociodemographic status, oral conditions, and oral health literacy (OHL). The variable outcome was the children's OHRQOL as assessed by the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS). We fitted zero-inflated negative binomial regression (ZINB) models to evaluate associations between the study outcome and covariates in terms of PR (Prevalence Ratios), RR (Rate Ratios), and their respective Confidence Intervals (95% CI).ResultsChildren's OHRQOL was not associated with OHL. Dental caries had a negative impact on the children's quality of life (p < 0.05). A reduced impact on OHRQOL is also associated with having siblings (PR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.52–0.95). A higher age of the mother reduced OHRQOL impacts (PR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.52–0.98).ConclusionsThe factors associated with children's OHRQOL were the number of siblings, the mothers' age, and dental caries. This study observed no association between parental OHL and children's OHRQOL.

Psychometric properties of the Thai version of the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for 5-year-old children.

As caries prevalence in Thai preschool children is very high and its consequences have scarcely been evaluated, the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for 5-year-old children (SOHO-5) is considered as an appropriate tool to measure the children's oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). To translate the SOHO-5 into Thai (Th-SOHO-5) and assess its psychometric characteristics. The cross-cultural adaptation of the SOHO-5 into Thai comprised forward-backward translation by experts and face validation by 20 child-parent dyads. To evaluate psychometric properties of the final version, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 306 child-parent pairs using an interview mode for children and a self-administered mode for parents. A trained investigator examined children's caries status. The Th-SOHO-5 showed satisfactory psychometric characteristics. Cronbach's alpha values were above 0.8 for both child and proxy reports. Overall intraclass correlation coefficients were > 0.9. Factor analysis supported a single-factor structure model of the Th-SOHO-5 and showed an excellent fit. Th-SOHO-5 scores were correlated with all global rating scales of oral health and well-being. Children with higher caries experience or caries with pulpal involvement demonstrated significantly higher Th-SOHO-5 scores. The Th-SOHO-5 possessed good reliability and validity. It can be used to evaluate the OHRQoL of preschool children in Thailand.

Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Oral Health Literacy Assessment Task: Pathways between parental oral health literacy and oral health consequences in children.

Parental oral health literacy (OHL) is a determinant of oral health behavior and oral health status of children. To delineate the pathways between parental OHL and oral health consequences in children and to validate the Turkish version of the Oral Health Literacy Assessment Task (TOHLAT-P). This cross-sectional study was conducted with 315 parent-child dyads. The TOHLAT-P was psychometrically evaluated. Item analysis was performed to determine the reliability of the TOHLAT-P. Construct validity was tested by comparing a commonly used instrument using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficients. A path model was developed to evaluate associations between parental OHL and oral health consequences in children. The model consisted of five endogenous variables (parental oral health behaviors, children's oral health behaviors, children's dental anxiety, dental caries, and oral health-related quality of life [OHRQoL]) and one exogenous variable (parental OHL). A path analysis was used to test the compatibility of the conceptual model, with a statistical significance of p < .001. There was a statistically significant association between parental oral health behaviors and children's oral health behaviors, and between dental caries and OHRQoL. The variable most directly affected by parental OHL was parental oral health behaviors, whereas the variable most indirectly affected by parental OHL was children's oral health behaviors. The path analysis revealed significant associations between parental and children's oral health behaviors, and between dental caries and OHRQoL. Understanding these pathways is necessary to establish strategies to improve children's oral health. The TOHLAT-P will be useful for future assessments of Turkish children.