Measuring Parental Perceptions of Child Oral Health‐related Quality of Life

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Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the P‐CPQ, a measure of parental/caregiver perceptions of the oral health‐related quality of life of children. This forms one component of the Child Oral Health Quality of Life Questionnaire (COHQOL). Methods: An item pool was developed through a review of existing child health questionnaires and interviews with parents/caregivers of children with pedodontic, orthodontic, and orofacial conditions. The resulting 47 items were used in a study in which 208 parents/caregivers provided data on their frequency and importance. The 31 items rated the most frequent and important were selected for the final questionnaire (P‐CPQ). The P‐CPQ validity and reliability were assessed by a new sample of 231 parents, 79 of whom completed two copies for the assessment of test‐retest reliability. Results: The P‐CPQ discriminated among the three clinical groups included in the expected direction. Within‐group analyses using clinical data provided some evidence that scores were associated with the severity of the condition. The P‐CPQ also showed good construct validity. It had excellent internal consistency reliability with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.94 and demonstrated perfect test‐retest reliability (ICC=0.85). Conclusion: The study provides data to indicate that the P‐CPQ is valid and reliable.