Parental influence on children’s answers to an oral-health-related quality of life questionnaire

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate parental influence on children's answers to an oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) questionnaire. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a non-probabilistic sample of 84 pairs of 5-year-olds and parents/guardians. The participants were selected from a primary family healthcare center in Campina Grande, Brazil. First, the children and parents answered respective versions of the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for Five-Year-Old Children (SOHO-5). Seven days later, the children answered their version of the SOHO-5, without the presence of their parents/guardians, and underwent a clinical exam of dental caries, traumatic dental injury and malocclusion, by a previously calibrated researcher. Statistical analysis involved a comparison of mean scores and the calculation of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Poisson regression models were used to associate the variables (α = 5%). No significant differences were found between the mean SOHO-5 scores of the children when alone or accompanied by parents/guardians (p > 0.05). The ICC between the answers of the children alone or accompanied was 0.84. White spot (PR = 6.32; 95%CI: 1.36 -29.40) and cavitated lesions (PR = 9.81; 95%CI: 3.22 -29.85) had an impact on OHRQoL, according to the children's self-report, whereas cavitated lesions (PR = 90.52; ) and anterior open bite (PR = 1.95; 95%IC: 1.07 -3.53) remained on the final model, according to the parents' version of the SOHO-5. In conclusion, parents did not influence the children's responses, and dental caries are the oral health problem exerting the greatest impact on the children's OHRQoL.

Perception of parents and self‐reports of children regarding the impact of traumatic dental injury on quality of life

“…The prevalence of TDI in the present investigation was 53.4%, which is similar to the results of previous studies involving preschool children (46.3%‐52.7%) . TDI was not associated with an impact on OHRQoL according to the reports of the parents/caregivers or the children, which is likely due to the greater prevalence of non‐complicated injuries . Other studies involving the use of the SOHO‐5 report similar findings .…”

“…The prevalence of impact from oral problems on the OHRQoL of the preschool children in the present study was 32.9% based on the reports of parents/caregivers and 42.2% based on the children's self‐reports. Previous studies conducted with the SOHO‐5 report similar findings . The difference between the perceptions of children and parents/caregiver suggests that self‐reports should be considered as a complementary measure for the evaluation of the impact of TDI on the quality of life of preschool children …”

“…TDI was not associated with an impact on OHRQoL according to the reports of the parents/caregivers or the children, which is likely due to the greater prevalence of non‐complicated injuries . Other studies involving the use of the SOHO‐5 report similar findings . When assessing types of TDI, the occurrence of non‐complicated TDI was seen as a protective factor for OHRQoL according to the reports of the parents/caregivers.…”

“…Indeed, a previous study found that the inclusion of enamel fractures in the diagnosis of TDI in primary teeth significantly reduced the impact on OHRQoL . Complicated TDIs tend to have a greater impact on the OHRQoL of preschool children due to the limitations such injuries impose . Studies conducted with the ECOHIS offer divergent results, which may be explained by the severity of the injuries.…”

“…This study was conducted only at public schools and did not evaluate TDI . Available studies using the SOHO‐5 have evaluated the impact of TDI on the OHRQoL of preschool children using non‐representative samples . Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of TDI on the OHRQoL of 5‐year‐old preschool children in a complex, representative, preschool‐based sample using the SOHO‐5.…”