Validation of a pediatric oral health-related quality of life scale in Navajo children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

American Indian (AI) children experience the highest rates of early childhood caries (ECC) in the USA, yet no tool has been validated to measure the impact of ECC on their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).

Objective

To validate a pediatric OHRQoL scale in a preschool, rural, reservation-based AI population.

Methods

In 2011 and 2012, we measured the OHRQoL of AI children attending Head Start in Navajo Nation with the 12-item preschool version of the pediatric oral health-related quality of life (POQL) scale administered to their parents/caregivers. Parents/caregivers also reported their children's subjective oral health status (OHS) and oral health behavior adherence. Concurrently, calibrated dental examiners measured the children's decayed, miss

SUBMITTER: Braun PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4282938 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature