Adaptation and validation of the PEDSQL™ oral health scale for toddlers in Chilean population

Tools Evaluating Child Oral Health-Related Quality of Life

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to systemically review the tools developed for evaluating oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in preschool children.

METHODS

Two reviewers systematically searched English-language publications within PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. They screened the titles and abstracts and retrieved the full texts of the selected publications. Studies which developed, validated, or culturally adapted an OHRQoL tool used in preschool children were included. They recorded information regarding tool characteristics, item configuration, discriminative validation, the aim of assessment, and the target group.

RESULTS

The study included 59 publications and identified 12 tools for assessing OHRQoL in preschool children. Seven tools were tailored for preschool ages. Most of the scales were generic oral health measures. Dental caries was the most commonly used oral condition for assessing a tool's discriminative validity. Eight tools required parental proxy reports. Three tools were both child-administrated and parent-administrated. One tool was designed to be answered solely by children. Ten tools assessed the oral health-related impact on children, including oral condition-related, functioning, environmental, and emotional/social domains. Four tools included items regarding the impact on both children and family.

CONCLUSIONS

This review identified 12 tools developed for evaluating OHRQoL in preschool children, 7 of which were tailored for preschool age. The 12 tools were validated but incomprehensive due to the subjective and multidimensional nature of the OHRQoL concept. Researchers can choose a suitable tool for their studies by understanding the basic characteristics and item setting of the tools. Researchers can have an overview of the tools developed for evaluating OHRQoL in preschool children. They can use the findings from this review to choose a suitable tool for their studies regarding the OHRQoL in preschool children.

Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in pediatric population after surgical intervention in traumatic lower limb injuries: A prospective cohort

Objective

To assess health related quality of life (HRQOL) of children who had undergone surgical intervention after lower limb trauma.

Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted at KEMU and UCHS, from September 2021 to June 2022. Fifty children aged 5 to 12 years who had undergone surgical intervention for lower limb trauma were included. Patients whose parents couldn't understand Urdu or English, or with polytrauma, needing amputation and/or comorbidities were excluded. Another fifty-school going, age matched children were enrolled as controls. After informed consent, two responses from participants and parents on PedsQL questionnaires were recorded, first one week after discharge and second after six months, assessing age specific quality of life in four domains (physical, emotional, social, school). Impaired HRQOL was defined as a score that was more than 1SD below the mean of healthy sample.

Results

Baseline HRQOL scores were significantly lower in patients and parents reported data taken at one week, overall difference of 39.13 in total HRQOL scores (effect size, d 2.76). Difference of 39.86 was observed between baseline and follow-up data taken from parents with the highest effect size (d=3.34) in physical functioning scores. There was a significant difference of 10.07 between the total HRQOL scores of patients on follow up and controls, and HRQOL patients' scores were higher than controls across all domains. Parent reported scores were less than those reported by children in almost all cases.

Conclusion

HRQOL of children at discharge after management of lower limb trauma was lower than age-matched control group. It, however, significantly exceeded controls' scores after six months showing complete recovery.

Preschool oral health-related quality of life: A practical guide to measurement tools

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this paper is to describe currently available measurement tools for assessing oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) in preschool aged children to aid clinicians and researchers in selection of the appropriate tool for their needs.

METHODS

The authors describe and compare eight OHRQoL tools that were created or adapted for use among preschoolers, including the Child Oral Health Impact Profile-Preschool, Dental Discomfort Questionnaire, Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale, Michigan-OHRQoL, Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire and Family Impact Scale, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Oral Health Scale, Pediatric Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, and Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for 5-year-old children.

RESULTS

The tools vary by their intended target population, oral condition of interest, intended setting for use, and method of administration. They also vary in the number of items or questions included and the domains covered by those items. Unique features and strengths of each are highlighted.

CONCLUSION

A variety of tools exist for measuring OHQoL in preschoolers, this article provides an overview that can facilitate selection for specific intended uses.