Oral Health Literacy – Adult Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties and its Influence on Oral Health Status of School Teachers in Bhubaneswar, India

Abstract

Objective: To translate Oral Health Literacy -Adult Questionnaire from English to Odia language and test its psychometric properties and assess its influence on oral health status of school teachers. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed among 400; 116 (29%) males and 284 (71%) female school teachers of Bhubaneswar. OHL-AQ questionnaire subsequent to being translated to Odia language utilizing World Health Organization recommended translation back translation protocol was then tested for the establishment of its psychometric properties with assistance from the selected expert panel of academicians. The oral health status of participants was assessed using the WHO oral health assessment form-2013. Chi-square, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and linear regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: Internal consistency of OHL-AQ-O was acceptable with an alpha value of 0.70. Test-retest reliability showed almost perfect agreement (ICC=0.90, CI=0.85-0.93) indicating highly reliable translated scale (p=0.001). Overall mean oral health literacy scores were 13.02±1.86, with about 80% belonging to the high oral health literacy level group. Caries prevalence was 78%, with a mean DMFT of 3.04±2.55. Shallow pockets were absent majorly in teachers belonging to the high oral health literacy group (p=0.01). The multiple linear regression model depicted that only the teaching experience variable added significantly to the prediction (p=0.008). Conclusion: OHL-AQ-O questionnaire was found valid and reliable to measure OHL. Further application of the instrument in other communities and populations will support establishing the external validity of the OHL-AQ-O.

Topics Included in Health Literacy Studies in Asia: A Systematic Review

“…20,21,96 In India, low oral HL could reach up to 60.2% of the participants, 97 while people with high oral HL levels could reach 80% in another study. 98 The study populations were children and their mothers, 20 school teachers, 98 and outpatients. 97,99,100 Malaysian scientists also investigated the oral health level of parents and pregnant women and the implications for their children's oral health.…”

“…20,21,96,97,99,102,105 Higher oral HL could lead to better oral health. 98,100,102,105 In children, the higher oral HL of parents positively impacted children's oral health. 20,21,101 Moreover, oral HL levels were positively associated with oral health knowledge, attitude, and practice.…”