Introducing the pediatric oral health questionnaire
As dental healthcare professionals, our primary focus is to ensure the long-term oral health and wellbeing of our patients, especially our younger ones. ​Maintaining good oral hygiene from an early age is crucial for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. To this end, we at Station Road Dental Aldergrove are excited to announce the development of a new patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) specifically designed for children.
This innovative tool, the Pediatric Oral Health Questionnaire (POHQ), aims to provide a comprehensive and reliable assessment of a child’s overall oral health status, satisfaction with dental care, and quality of life. By empowering children to share their own perspectives on their oral health, we can gain invaluable insights to enhance our treatment approaches and better cater to their unique needs.
Understanding the importance of patient-reported outcomes
Traditional clinical assessments, while essential, often fall short in capturing the holistic picture of a patient’s oral health experience. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have emerged as a powerful complement to clinical data, allowing healthcare providers to understand the patient’s subjective experience, preferences, and priorities.
In the realm of pediatric dentistry, this shift towards patient-centric care is particularly important. Children’s perceptions of their oral health, their satisfaction with dental visits, and the impact of oral conditions on their daily lives can significantly differ from clinical observations. By incorporating the child’s voice into the evaluation process, we can better identify and address their unique concerns, fears, and oral health needs.
Developing the Pediatric Oral Health Questionnaire (POHQ)
The development of the Pediatric Oral Health Questionnaire (POHQ) was a collaborative effort between our dental team and a team of researchers specializing in patient-reported outcome measures. The goal was to create a comprehensive, yet age-appropriate, tool that would enable children to effectively communicate their oral health experiences.
The process began with a thorough literature review, examining existing PROMs in pediatric dentistry and identifying key areas that required further exploration. This was followed by focus group discussions with children, parents, and dental professionals to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that influence a child’s oral health-related quality of life.
Through this collaborative approach, the research team was able to identify the core domains that the POHQ should encompass, including:
- Oral Symptoms: Capturing the child’s experience of dental pain, discomfort, or other oral symptoms.
- Functional Wellbeing: Assessing the impact of oral conditions on a child’s ability to eat, speak, and perform daily activities.
- Emotional Wellbeing: Evaluating the child’s feelings and emotions related to their oral health, such as fear, anxiety, or self-consciousness.
- Social Wellbeing: Exploring the social implications of oral health, including interactions with peers and participation in social activities.
- Satisfaction with Dental Care: Assessing the child’s satisfaction with the dental treatment they receive and their overall experience at the dental clinic.
The research team then developed a comprehensive set of questionnaire items, carefully crafted to be age-appropriate, easy for children to understand, and sensitive to their unique perspectives. The POHQ was designed to be completed by the child, with the assistance of a parent or guardian if necessary, ensuring that the child’s voice is at the forefront of the assessment.
Validating the Pediatric Oral Health Questionnaire
To ensure the reliability and validity of the Pediatric Oral Health Questionnaire, the research team undertook a rigorous validation process. This included:
Cognitive Interviews
The POHQ was pilot-tested with a diverse group of children, ranging in age from 8 to 12 years old. During these cognitive interviews, the children were asked to complete the questionnaire and provide feedback on the clarity of the instructions, the comprehension of the questions, and the overall user-friendliness of the tool.
Based on the children’s insights, the research team made necessary refinements to the wording, response options, and formatting of the POHQ, ensuring that it was truly child-centric and easy for young patients to engage with.
Field-testing and Psychometric Evaluation
Following the cognitive interviews, the POHQ was field-tested with a larger sample of children, both with and without known oral health conditions. This allowed the research team to assess the questionnaire’s internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity.
The internal consistency of the POHQ was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha, a statistical measure that determines the reliability of the questionnaire’s items within each domain. The test-retest reliability was assessed by administering the POHQ to the same group of children twice, with a short interval in between, to ensure the stability of the scores over time.
To establish the construct validity of the POHQ, the research team compared the children’s scores on the questionnaire with other clinical measures of oral health, such as the presence of caries, gingivitis, or malocclusion. This allowed the team to confirm that the POHQ was accurately capturing the children’s overall oral health status.
Applying the Pediatric Oral Health Questionnaire in clinical practice
The Pediatric Oral Health Questionnaire (POHQ) is now ready to be implemented in our dental clinic and beyond, providing a valuable tool for healthcare professionals to better understand and address the unique oral health needs of children.
Incorporating the POHQ into the dental visit
At Station Road Dental Aldergrove, we have integrated the POHQ into our standard dental examination and treatment planning process. When a child patient visits our clinic, they will be asked to complete the POHQ before their clinical assessment.
The child’s responses on the POHQ will then be reviewed by the dental team, providing valuable insights into the child’s perception of their oral health, any concerns or fears they may have, and the impact of their oral condition on their daily life. This information will be used to tailor the treatment plan and guide our discussions with the child and their parents or guardians.
Monitoring oral health progress over time
Beyond the initial visit, the POHQ can be administered at subsequent appointments, allowing us to track the child’s progress and the impact of any dental interventions on their overall oral health-related quality of life.
For example, a child who has recently undergone orthodontic treatment may complete the POHQ before and after the treatment. By comparing the scores, we can gain a better understanding of how the child’s perceptions of their oral health and self-confidence have changed as a result of the treatment.
Similarly, a child with a history of dental caries or periodontal disease can complete the POHQ regularly, enabling us to monitor the effectiveness of our preventive and restorative efforts in improving the child’s overall oral health and wellbeing.
Enhancing communication and shared decision-making
The Pediatric Oral Health Questionnaire also serves as a valuable tool for enhancing communication and shared decision-making between our dental professionals, the child, and their parents or guardians.
By actively involving the child in the assessment process and encouraging them to share their perspectives, we can foster a collaborative approach to care. This, in turn, can lead to improved treatment adherence, as the child feels heard, understood, and empowered to play an active role in their oral health journey.
Furthermore, the POHQ can serve as a starting point for productive discussions about the child’s oral health. Our dental team can use the questionnaire responses to initiate conversations about the child’s concerns, fears, or goals, and work together with the child and their family to develop a personalized care plan that addresses their unique needs.
The future of pediatric oral health assessment
The development and implementation of the Pediatric Oral Health Questionnaire (POHQ) mark an exciting step forward in the field of pediatric dentistry. By elevating the child’s voice and incorporating their perspectives into the assessment and treatment process, we can better understand and address the multifaceted aspects of oral health and its impact on a child’s overall wellbeing.
As we continue to refine and expand the use of the POHQ, we anticipate that it will become an invaluable tool for healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers alike. The insights gained from this patient-reported outcome measure can inform the development of more effective treatment strategies, the design of child-friendly dental environments, and the implementation of comprehensive oral health education programs.
Moreover, the POHQ can serve as a model for the development of similar patient-reported outcome measures in other areas of pediatric healthcare, fostering a more holistic and patient-centered approach to care.
At Station Road Dental Aldergrove, we are proud to be at the forefront of this exciting initiative. By empowering our young patients to share their stories and experiences, we are paving the way for a future where oral health is not just about clinical outcomes, but about the overall wellbeing and quality of life of the children we serve.
