Family Impact Scale Research Articles

Effect of malocclusion among adolescents on family quality of life.

To evaluate the effect of malocclusion among adolescents on their families' oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). A consecutive sample of 125 parents/caregivers of Brazilian adolescents was chosen. Participants were asked to answer the Brazilian version of the Family Impact Scale (FIS). The main independent variable was adolescents' malocclusion, which was measured with the Dental Aesthetic Index. Gender, age, and family monthly income were the other independent variables. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney test, and univariate and multiple logistic regression. Among the 125 participants initially admitted to the present study, two were excluded so that 123 parents/caregivers participated providing a response rate of 98.4%. The overall FIS score revealed a more frequent effect for families of adolescents who presented malocclusion (P=0.005). Significant findings were also observed for parental emotions (P=0.022), family conflict (P=0.010), and financial burden (P=0.010) subscales. When the independent variables family monthly income and malocclusion were inserted together in the regression model, families with a monthly income of <5 Brazilian minimum wages (approximately US$ 325.00 per month) were more likely to have a worse OHRQoL, and families whose adolescents presented malocclusion were 3.55 more likely to have a poorer quality of life than those families whose adolescents did not present malocclusion. Families of adolescents with malocclusion were more likely to report a worse OHRQoL.

Effects of Dental Rehabilitation under General Anesthesia on Children's Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life: Saudi Arabian Parents' Perspectives.

Aim: To determine whether dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA) would improve quality of life for children as reported by Saudi Arabian parents using a Parental-Caregivers Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and a Family Impact Scale (FIS). Methods: Sixty-six parents completed P-CPQ and FIS scales four to eight weeks after their children (ages three to ten years) underwent comprehensive dental treatment under GA. Postoperative data were compared with baseline data gathered before GA using paired t-test at the 0.05 level of significance. The responsiveness of the P-CPQ and the FIS and the magnitude of changes in children’s quality of life as a result of dental treatment were determined by calculating the effect size (ES). Cross-sectional construct validity and internal consistency were also examined using the pretreatment scores of the P-CPQ and the FIS scores. Results: The overall P-CPQ and FIS scores showed a significant decrease following treatment, concomitant with large ES in both scales and all their subscales with the exception of social wellbeing, which showed moderate ES (ES 0.59). The greatest relative changes were seen in the oral symptoms (ES 1.81) and the family activity (ES 1.57) subscales. Conclusion: Dental treatment under GA is associated with considerable improvement in children’s quality of life as perceived by Saudi parents. The P-CPQ and the FIS scales are valid and responsive to changes resulting from dental treatment of young children affected by severe childhood caries.

Oral health-related quality-of-life in Swedish children before and after dental treatment under general anesthesia

Objective. This study evaluated oral health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL) in children and families before and after dental treatment under general anesthesia because of severe caries or molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH). Materials and methods. A consecutive sample of the parents/caregivers of children (3–14 years) in need of treatment under general anesthesia participated in the study. The children were divided into two groups: 3–6 years and 7–14 years. The 49-item questionnaire that was administered before and after general anesthesia comprised the Child Oral Health Quality of Life-components of the Parental-Caregivers Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ), the Family Impact Scale (FIS) and two global questions concerning oral health and general well-being. The P-CPQ domains were Oral symptoms, Functional limitations, Emotional well-being and Social well-being. The FIS items assessed impact on family life. Results. In both age groups, a significant decrease (p < 0.001) occurred in overall P-CPQ and the Oral symptoms, Functional limitations and Emotional limitations domains of the P-CPQ. Mean values for the Social well-being domain decreased significantly in the older (p < 0.05) but not the younger age group. Mean values for FIS decreased significantly in the younger (p < 0.001) and the older (p < 0.05) age groups. Conclusions. Dental treatment of severe caries or MIH, performed under general anesthesia, had an immediate effect on the oral health-related quality-of-life in the children in this study and a positive impact on the family situation.

Impact of dental treatment under general anesthesia on the oral health-related quality of life of adolescents and adults with special needs.

This study aimed to assess the perception of the family's primary caregiver on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and the impact on family dynamics, of dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA) in adolescent and adult patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and neurocognitive disorders. Self-administered questionnaires were completed, before dental treatment, by 116 primary family caregivers of patients who received dental treatment under GA, and 102 (88%) of these caregivers completed the same questionnaires within 4 wk after treatment. The Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) and the Family Impact Scale (FIS) were shortened to a 14-item COHIP (COHIP-14) and a 12-item FIS (FIS-12) based on the limitations of patients' communication. The COHIP-14 and FIS-12 scores and each subscale improved after treatment. The baseline scores varied based on certain characteristics of the patients, such as age, disabilities, medications, caregivers, meal types, cooperation levels, and treatment needs. The postoperative improvement in OHRQoL was significant in the patients who were older than 30 yr of age, originally eating soft meals, displaying no or very low levels of cooperation, or receiving endodontic treatment. Based on the primary caregiver perceptions, the OHRQoL of adolescents and adults with IDD and neurocognitive disorders was improved by dental treatment under GA.

Effects of Enamel Fluorosis and Dental Caries on Quality of Life

The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of enamel fluorosis and dental caries on oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) in North Carolina schoolchildren and their families. Students (n = 7,686) enrolled in 398 classrooms in grades K-12 were recruited for a onetime survey. Parents of students in grades K-3 and 4-12 completed the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) and Family Impact Scale (FIS), respectively. Students in grades 4-12 completed the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ8-10 in grades 4-5; CPQ11-14 in grades 6-12). All students were examined for fluorosis (Dean’s index) and caries experience (d2-3fs or D2-3MFS indices). OHRQoL scores (sum response codes) were analyzed for their association with fluorosis categories and sum of d2-3fs and D2-3MFS according to ordinary least squares regression with SAS procedures for multiple imputation and analysis of complex survey data. Differences in OHRQoL scores were evaluated against statistical and minimal important difference (MID) thresholds. Of 5,484 examined students, 71.8% had no fluorosis; 24.4%, questionable to very mild fluorosis; and 3.7%, mild, moderate, or severe fluorosis. Caries categories were as follows: none (43.1%), low (28.6%), and moderate to high (28.2%). No associations between fluorosis and any OHRQoL scales met statistical or MID thresholds. The difference (5.8 points) in unadjusted mean ECOHIS scores for the no-caries and moderate-to-high caries groups exceeded the MID estimate (2.7 points) for that scale. The difference in mean FIS scores (1.5 points) for the no-caries and moderate-to-high groups exceeded the MID value (1.2 points). The sum of d2-3fs and D2-3MFS scores was positively associated with CPQ11-14 (B = 0.240, p < .001), ECOHIS (B = 0.252, p ≤ .001), and FIS (B = 0.096, p ≤ .01) scores in ordinary least squares regression models. A child’s caries experience negatively affects OHRQoL, while fluorosis has little impact.

Impact of the first eight months of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance on the families of adolescent patients.

To evaluate the impact of the first 8 months of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance on the families of adolescent patients and to examine the evaluative properties of the Family Impact Scale (FIS). The study involved a sample of 94 parents/caregivers of adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance. The participants were asked to answer the Brazilian version of the FIS before treatment (T1) and 8 months after the bonding of the fixed appliance (T2). Statistical analysis was carried out using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Bonferroni correction for the overall score and FIS subscales. Responsiveness of the measure and the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) were also assessed. Among the 94 participants initially admitted to the present study, two were excluded as a result of treatment dropout and failure to return the second questionnaire. Thus, a sample of 92 parents/caregivers participated (response rate: 97.8%). Among the 92 participants, 70 were the mothers of patients, 16 were fathers, and six were other family members. Statistically significant improvements were found in the overall score (P < .001) as well as in both parental activity and parental emotions subscales (P < .001). The reductions in scores were associated with effect sizes showing moderate clinically meaningful changes in the overall FIS and in the parental/family activity, parental emotions, and family conflict subscales. The MCID was 2.66 for the overall FIS. The first 8 months of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance had a positive impact on the families of adolescents.

Coping Strategies and Psychological Distress Among Mothers of Patients With Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and Palate and the Family Impact of This Disorder

The current study aimed to investigate the coping strategies and level of psychological distress in mothers of patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and the family impact of this disorder. Participants were mothers of 55 children or adolescents with nonsyndromic CLP recruited from families attending a CLP clinic and 2 university hospitals in Mashhad, northeast of Iran. Family impact, psychological distress, and coping strategies were assessed using validated psychological questionnaires including Family Impact Scale, General Health Questionnaire, and Coping Response Inventory. Findings revealed that mothers relied more on the use of approach-oriented rather than avoidance-oriented coping strategies. According to General Health Questionnaire scores, 38.2% of mothers showed some evidence of psychological distress, and 23.6% were suspected of having severe psychological problems. Regarding the family impact of CLP, mothers reported the greatest impact to be on the family's financial status and parental emotions. Those mothers who used avoidant coping strategies reported a greater family impact of CLP (P = 0.002). Emotional discharge and acceptance coping were significant predictors of family impact (P = 0.037 and P = 0.035, respectively). Mothers of 13- to 18-year-old patients with CLP reported greater use of problem-solving coping strategy when compared with mothers of younger patients (P = 0.006). Child's age and coping strategies were not significant predictors of the level of mother's psychological distress. Increased knowledge about how parents cope with their child's craniofacial condition may help caregivers develop a more family-oriented care approach, which is sensitive to the psychosocial needs of parents, children, and their families.

Effects of Dental Rehabilitation under General Anesthesia on Children’s Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Using Proxy Short Versions of OHRQoL Instruments

Aim. To examine the impact of comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA) on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children using short form versions of the Parental-Caregivers Perceptions questionnaire (P-CPQ) and Family Impact Scale (FIS). Design. A pretest/posttest study involved parents whose children (N = 67) were affected with severe childhood caries and completed comprehensive dental treatment under GA. All parents completed the short form versions of the P-CPQ and FIS at baseline and 4–8 weeks following the dental treatment. To examine test-retest reliability, a convenience sample of 38 parents repeated the pretreatment questionnaires 1-2 weeks after they completed them at baseline. Statistical tests including the Kruskal-Wallis test, Cronbach's alpha, and paired t-test were used to examine cross-sectional construct validity, internal consistency, and responsiveness of the instruments, respectively. Results. Cross-sectional construct validity and internal consistency were acceptable. Test-retest reliability was excellent. Large decreases in posttreatment scores were observed along with moderate to large effect sizes. Conclusions. Dental treatment under GA is associated with considerable improvement in OHRQoL of children and their families, as demonstrated by short form versions of the P-CPQ and FIS completed by the children's parents.

Comparison of the ECOHIS and short-form P-CPQ and FIS scales

BackgroundThe development of short-form versions of child oral–health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) scales has resulted in two closely related sets of measures. We set out to compare the properties and responsiveness of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS – both “child” and “family” versions) and short-form Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and the Family Impact Scale (FIS) measures among New Zealand children with early childhood caries who underwent treatment under general anaesthesia (GA).MethodsSecondary analysis of data from pretest/post-test clinical studies of consecutive clinical convenience samples undertaken in Wellington in 2005 and Auckland in 2010/11, with cross-sectional analyses using the former, and longitudinal analyses using the latter.ResultsCronbach’s α values for the ECOHIS-Child, P-CPQ-16 and P-CPQ-8 were 0.80, 0.88 and 0.80 respectively, and 0.83 and 0.68 (respectively) for the FIS-8 and the ECOHIS-Family. All scales showed acceptable cross-sectional construct validity, although that of the ECOHIS-Family was not as marked as that observed with the FIS-8. Responsiveness was acceptable, with the three child-focused measures showing similar effect sizes. The two family-focused measures were also similar.ConclusionsThe ECOHIS-Child and the P-CPQ scales are very similar in their properties, but the ECOHIS-Family falls short of the FIS-8 in some important ways. The ECOHIS scales may be better deployed in epidemiological survey work rather than in health services research, whereas the P-CPQ-8, P-CPQ-16 and the FIS-8 seem to be well suited for the latter (particularly with children suffering from severe caries), but their epidemiological utility remains to be demonstrated.

Impact of traumatic dental injuries among adolescents on family's quality of life: a population‐based study

To evaluate the impact of traumatic dental injury (TDI) among Brazilian adolescents on their families' quality of life (QoL). A cross-sectional study was carried out with a population-based sample of 1122 schoolchildren aged 11-14 years selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Parents/caregivers answered the Brazilian version of the 14-item Family Impact Scale (B-FIS) to assess the impact on family's QoL. The main independent variable was TDI, which was diagnosed using the Andreasen classification. Malocclusion, dental caries, gender and socio-economic classification were the other independent variables. Poisson regression analyses were carried out (P<0.05). The prevalence of TDI was 14.8%. The multivariate model demonstrated that families of adolescents diagnosed with fracture involving the dentine or dentine/pulp were more likely to report a negative impact on the overall B-FIS score [rate ratio (RR)=1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10-1.88] as well on the Parental/Family Activity (RR=1.45; 95% CI: 1.09-1.94), Parental Emotions (RR=1.45; 95% CI: 1.03-2.04) and Family Conflict (RR=1.46; 95% CI: 1.01-2.11) subscales in comparison with those who had no signs of TDI. Families of adolescents with more severe TDI were more likely to report a negative impact on QoL, affecting family activities and emotions, which can result in family conflicts.

The Family Impact Scale for Hoarding (FISH): Measure development and initial validation

BackgroundThe Family Impact Scale for Hoarding (FISH) was designed to assess the disruption experienced, by members of a familial or social circle, due to one individual's hoarding difficulties. The scale was drafted to examine two aspects of impact: accommodation and burden. The current study describes the scale's development and preliminary validation. MethodsOne hundred thirty-four adults, identifying as the relative of someone with problematic hoarding (n=102) or normative collecting behavior (n=32), completed the FISH alongside measures of hoarding severity, burden, functional impairment, and quality of life (QoL). Exploratory factor analysis (FA) was used to examine the scale’s factor structure. Internal consistency, known-groups and convergent validity were also investigated. ResultsFA supported two factors, accounting for 65.43% of variance. Of the scale items, 16 were determined to load onto these factors. Items that did not load were omitted. The revised scale accounted for 67.41% of variance and was characterized by good internal consistency (α=0.86). This measure also differentiated between study groups and demonstrated strong correlations with measures of severity and burden. Regression indicated the FISH better predicted group membership than existing measures of burden, impairment or quality of life. DiscussionThe FISH is a promising measure of family impact in the context of (HD). Its psychometric properties and utility in monitoring outcomes of caregiver-based interventions should be investigated further.

The impact of nonsyndromic oral clefts on family quality of life

This study aimed to assess the impact of nonsyndromic oral cleft (NSOC) on families' quality of life (QoL) using the Brazilian version of the Family Impact Scale (B-FIS). A hospital-based case-control study was conducted with NSOC cases and unaffected controls recruited at Dental Clinic in Federal University. The mean B-FIS scores were 10.32 (SD 6.53) and 5.04 (SD 4.73), while the median scores were 9.00 and 3.50 (p < .05 Wilcoxon test), respectively, in case and control group. The "parental/family activity" subscale had the highest impact average score in case (5.62 SD 3.76) and control group (3.00 SD 3.08) (p < .05 Mann-Whitney test). The types of cleft with the most impact were cleft lip (12.00 SD 8.98) and cleft lip with cleft palate (11.06 SD 6.74). NSOC affects the QoL of families with children who have this condition; however, there were no remarkable differences between the groups.

Health‐related quality of life and congenital heart disease in Australia

To determine whether, in children with congenital heart disease (CHD), disease severity is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and impact on the family. Cross-sectional, single-centre study comparing HRQOL outcomes of age and sex matched children with hypoplasia of the left ventricle (HLV) (n = 31) and tetralogy of Fallot (n = 29) was performed in Queensland, Australia. HRQOL was assessed using generic and disease-specific components of the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory Measurement Model (PedsQL). Intra-diagnostic age group comparisons of HRQOL were examined. Impact of CHD on families and parental HRQOL was assessed using the PedsQL Family Impact Scale. Child and parent-proxy reporting indicate children with HLV have significantly lower overall HRQOL than children with tetralogy of Fallot across generic domains of HRQOL (P < 0.0001), with significantly lower scores in physical (P < 0.0001) and psychosocial (P < 0.0001) health domains. No significant difference in child reporting across domains of the Cardiac Module is evident. Parent-proxy reporting indicates significantly lower scores on the symptom scales for children with HLV (P < 0.001), with greater cognitive problems (P < 0.02) and perceived treatment anxiety (P < 0.01). No significant differences in HRQOL were identified between age groups. HLV has a greater overall family impact, with significantly lower parental HRQOL (P = 0.0001) and family functioning (P < 0.0001) summary scores. The more severe condition of HLV is associated with poorer HRQOL in some domains and has greater impact on parental HRQOL and family functioning.

Impact of oral diseases and disorders on oral‐health‐related quality of life of children with cerebral palsy

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of oral diseases and disorders on the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children with CP, adjusting this impact by socioeconomic factors. Data were collected from 60 pairs of parents-children with CP. Parents answered the child oral health quality of life questionnaire (parental-caregivers perception questionnaire and family impact scale) and a socioeconomic questionnaire. Dental caries experience, traumatic dental injuries, malocclusions, bruxism, and dental fluorosis were also evaluated. The multivariate adjusted model showed that dental caries experience (p < 0.001) and the presence of bruxism had a negative impact (p = 0.046) on the OHRQoL. A greater family income had a positive impact on it (p < 0.001). Dental caries experience and bruxism are conditions strongly associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL of children with CP and their parents, but a higher family income can improve this negative impact.

Assessing the responsiveness of the Brazilian FIS to treatment for traumatic dental injury

This study aimed to assess the responsiveness of the Brazilian version of the Family Impact Scale (B-FIS) to describe changes in the quality of life (QoL) after treatment for traumatic dental injury (TDI). After applying the eligibility criteria, 156 patients from 2 to 14 years old, who were attending a dental trauma center, were selected over an 18-month period. QoL was evaluated at two different appointments: A1 (after TDI) and A2 (after TDI treatment). The B-FIS scores were calculated using the additive method. The responsiveness was analyzed by standardized response means (SRMs). Mean B-FIS scores were 12.1 (7.5 SD) and 2.7 (4.4 SD), while the median scores were 12.0 and 2.0, at A1 and A2 (P < 0.01), respectively. The B-FIS responsiveness scores dropped 9.4 points after TDI treatment. The change was observed as a decrease in the impact after TDI treatment, demonstrating a positive reduction in its absolute number as well as an improvement in the family's QoL. The SRM achieved was as follows: 1.2 total scale, 1.1 parental emotions, 0.5 family conflicts, 0.9 parental/family activity, 0.1 financial burden. The B-FIS scores indicated that TDI has significant impact on the family's QoL in A1 and still has impact in A2. The change was observed as a positive decrease in the impact after TDI treatment. The responsiveness of the FIS (Brazilian version) in detecting the family's change in QoL after TDI treatment was confirmed by SRM.

Short‐form versions of theParental‐CaregiversPerceptionsQuestionnaire and theFamilyImpactScale

To develop short-form versions of the Parental-Caregivers Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and Family Impact Scale (FIS). Pretest/post-test clinical studies involved parent-completed questionnaires (the P-CPQ and the FIS) before and some weeks after dental care (under general anaesthesia) for early childhood caries (ECCs) in consecutive clinical samples from Wellington and Auckland. Deriving the short-form versions used only the baseline data from the Wellington sample (N = 195), whereas their evaluation used both baseline and follow-up data from the Auckland sample (N = 144 followed up). Item impact analysis was used to identify the 8 and 16 items with the greatest impact. An eight-item short-form FIS version was obtained in the same way. In the Wellington sample, Cronbach's α for the full, 16- and 8-item P-CPQ scales was 0.92, 0.89 and 0.82, respectively, and it was 0.88 and 0.85 for the full and eight-item FIS. Cross-sectional concurrent validity in the Wellington sample was acceptable for all short forms. Examining their responsiveness in the Auckland sample, large decreases post-treatment were observed in the short-form P-CPQ scores which were similar in relative magnitude to those seen with the full version. The full and short-form FIS scale scores showed moderate decreases. The reliability, validity and responsiveness of the short-form versions were acceptable in these settings with children suffering from severe ECC; however, before they can be treated as definitive measures for use in health services research to determine the effects of clinical interventions for ECC, their test-retest reliability should be examined and further validation undertaken.

Parental perceptions of the oral health‐related quality of life of autistic children in Saudi Arabia

The aim of this study was to use parental perception to assess the Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of children with Autism. A total of 59 families of children with Autism who had an unaffected sibling were cross-matched for age and gender of the affected child with families with no autistic children. The parents were administered the Parental Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and the Family impact scale (FIS) components of and Arabic version of the Child Oral Health Related Quality of Life questionnaire (COHRQL). The P-CPQ scores of Children with Autism were compared with those of their unaffected siblings and those of children from families with no autistic child, while the FIS scores were compared between families with and without an autistic child. Regression models were constructed to show the association of sociodemographic factors on the OHRQoL of autistic children. The results of this study seem to suggest that childhood autism results in a reduced OHRQoL for both the affected child as well as the family. The apparent reduced parental concern with unaffected siblings of autistic children, when compared to parental concern towards children in families with no autistic child is an area that could merit further research.

Parental reports of the oral health-related quality of life of children with cerebral palsy

BackgroundThe severity of physical and mental impairments and oral problems, as well as socioeconomic factors, may have an impact on quality of life of children with cerebral palsy (CP). The aim of this research was to assess the impact of impairments and oral health conditions, adjusted by socioeconomic factors, on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of children with CP using their parents as proxies.MethodsSixty children, between 6-14 years of age were selected. Their parents answered a children’s OHRQoL instrument (5 domains) which combines the Parental-Caregivers Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and Family Impact Scale (FIS). The severity of dental caries, type of CP, communication ability, gross motor function, seizures and socioeconomic conditions were assessed.ResultsConsidering the total score of the OHRQoL instrument, only the reduction of communication ability and dental caries severity had a negative impact on the OHRQoL (p < 0.05). Considering each domain of the instrument, the severity of the type of CP and its reduction of communication ability showed a negative impact on oral symptoms and functional limitations domains (p < 0.05). Seizures have a negative impact on oral symptoms domain (p = 0.006). The multivariate fitted model showed that the severity of dental caries, communication ability and low family income were negatively associated with the impact on OHRQoL (p = 0.001).ConclusionsThe severity of dental caries, communication ability, and family income are conditions strongly associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL of children with CP.

The impact of dental caries and trauma in children on family quality of life

To assess the impact of children's dental caries (DC) and traumatic dental injuries (TDI) on parents' quality of life (QoL), adjusted by family income. Parents of 219 children aged 5 and 6 years answered the Family Impact Scale (FIS) on their perception of QoL and data about income. Three calibrated dentists examined the severity of DC according to decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth index, and children were categorized into: 0 = caries free; 1-5 = low severity; and ≥ 6 = high severity. TDI were classified into uncomplicated and complicated injuries. QoL was measured through FIS items and total score, and Poisson regression was used to associate the variables with the outcome. Severity of DC showed a negative impact on the total score and subscales on parental/family activities, parental emotions and financial burden (P < 0.001). TDI showed a negative impact on total score and in some FIS items. The multivariate-adjusted model showed that only the increase in the severity of children's DC (RR = 3.19; 95% CI = 2.36, 4.31; P < 0.001) was associated with a greater negative impact on parents' QoL, while high family income was a protective factor (RR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.48, 0.95; P < 0.001). The severity of children's DC has a negative impact on parents' QoL, whereas TDI do not. A lower family income might have a negative impact on parents' QoL.

Changes in young children’s OHRQoL after dental treatment under general anaesthesia

To use the Parental-Caregivers Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and Family Impact Scale (FIS) to determine whether dental treatment of young Auckland children under general anaesthesia (GA) improved oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) for them and their families. A pretest/post-test design, with a consecutive clinical sample of parents/caregivers of children (10 years or younger) treated under GA. More than half of the children were Māori or Pacific Islanders. Of the 157 children in the baseline sample, 144 (91.7%) were followed up. The overall P-CPQ score showed a large decrease following treatment, along with an increase in the number scoring 0 (no impact). Similar relative changes were observed in the oral symptoms and emotional well-being subscales, whereas the other two subscales showed moderate decreases. All post-treatment FIS scores were lower than pre-treatment ones; all showed moderate effect sizes. The greatest relative changes were seen in the parental/family activity and parental emotions subscales. The dental treatment of young children under GA is associated with considerable improvement in their OHRQoL. The P-CPQ and the FIS are valid and responsive to treatment-associated changes in young children with early childhood caries (ECC).