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Aim To derive and evaluate a short form of the Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire. Methods Data from three previous studies of dentine hypersensitivity ( n = 353) were pooled and randomly divided into half. Ten- and 15-item short forms were derived in the first half of the data using the item impact and regression methods. The four short forms were evaluated in the second half. Results The 10 and 15-item versions of the regression short form detected impacts in 37% and 61% of participants, respectively, compared to 68% and 93% using the item impact method. All short forms had internal consistency (Cronbach's α) >0.84 and test-retest reliability ( ICC) >0.89. All correlated with the long form (all r > 0.93, p < 0.001) and with the effect of the mouth on everyday life (all r ≥ 0.73, p < 0.001). None of the short forms detected a treatment effect in two trials although all four showed a tendency to detect an effect in a trial where the long form had done so. Conclusions The 15-item short form derived with the item impact method performed better than other short forms and appears to be sufficiently robust for use in individual patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To validate the Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire in terms of responsiveness to change and to determine the minimally important difference. Materials and Methods The study was a secondary analysis of data from three randomized controlled trials with 311 participants. Three aspects of responsiveness were examined: change within individuals, differences among people who improved, stayed the same or worsened using an external referent and change due to treatment. Responsiveness to treatments of differing efficacy was assessed in trials with negative and active controls. Results The measure showed excellent internal reliability, test-retest reliability and criterion validity. The measure was highly responsive to change within individuals (Cohen's effect sizes: 0.28, 0.56, 0.86) showing decreases in the total score (i.e. improvement in OHrQoL) across all trials. The effect sizes in participants whose self-reported QoL 'improved' were large (0.73-1.31). Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire detected a treatment effect in one of two negative control trials (effect size: 0.47). Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire scores were similar in the test and control groups in the active control trial. The minimally important difference range was between 22 and 39 points. Conclusions The measure is longitudinally reliable, valid and responsive and can discriminate between treatments of different efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oral diseases affect a significant proportion of the world's population, yet international comparisons involving oral health outcomes have often been limited due to differences in the way country-level primary data are collected. In response to this, the World Dental Federation (FDI) Oral Health Observatory project was launched with the goal of collecting and producing standardised international data on oral health across countries. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to examine associations between self-reported general health and a range of factors (sociodemographics, oral health-related behaviours, oral impacts, clinical variables) using these standardised international datasets., Methods: Dentists within FDI member National Dental Associations who chose to take part in the project were selected using a multistage sampling method. The number of dentists in each cluster was set according to the proportion of the national population living in the area, and 50 patients per dentist were systematically approached to take part. Patients and dentists completed 2 separate questionnaires on a mobile app. Ordinal logistic regression (conducted in December 2022) was used to analyse the linked patient and dentist data from 6 countries: China (n = 2242); Colombia (n = 1029); India (n = 999); Italy (n = 711); Japan (n = 1271); and Lebanon (n = 798). Self-reported general health was the dependent variable, with age, sex, education, self-reported oral health-related behaviours, self-reported oral impacts, and clinical variables acting as the independent variables., Results: The results demonstrated a different pattern of associations in the different countries. Better self-reported general health was associated with degree-level education in all 6 countries and with reporting no oral impact and no sensitive teeth in 4 countries. Several country-specific patterns were also found, including the importance of tooth brushing in Colombia, periodontal health in Italy, and differing associations with sugary drinks consumption in India and Japan., Conclusions: These descriptive findings provide a basis for further research and, importantly, for advocacy in identifying patient oral health care needs according to both person-reported and clinical aspects. This can facilitate optimisation of service provision and potentially influence policy and investments., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None disclosed., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)