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Sensitivity of an oral health‐related quality‐of‐life questionnaire in detecting oral health impairment in preschool children
Author(s) -
Guedes Renata S.,
Ardenghi Thiago M.,
Emmanuelli Bruno,
Piovesan Chaiana,
Mendes Fausto M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of paediatric dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.183
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1365-263X
pISSN - 0960-7439
DOI - 10.1111/ipd.12328
Subject(s) - medicine , oral health , poisson regression , quality of life (healthcare) , early childhood , cohort , pediatrics , cohort study , early childhood caries , dentistry , environmental health , developmental psychology , psychology , nursing , population
Aim This two‐year cohort study evaluated whether the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale ( ECOHIS ) is responsive to detect changes related to dental caries. Design Preschool children were examined in 2010 regarding dental caries, and their parents responded to the ECOHIS . After 2 years, 352 children (response rate = 73.6%) were re‐examined and a new ECOHIS was responded. Children were categorized according to caries increment (no new caries, 1–3 surfaces with new lesions, and four or more decayed surfaces). The outcome variables were related to the decline of quality of life as determined via ECOHIS : decline, severe decline, and differences between baseline and follow‐up scores. Effect sizes ( ES ) were calculated, and the associations were evaluated through Poisson regression. Results ES was small for children with 1–3 new lesions ( ES = 0.19) and moderate for children with four or more new carious lesions ( ES = 0.61). Children who developed 1–3 new lesions were significantly associated with all outcome variables compared to children with no new lesions, but the associations were stronger for children with four or more new carious lesions. Conclusions The ECOHIS is sensitive to the deterioration of quality of life due to caries increments in preschool children.