Translation and validation of Nordic Orofacial Test - Screening (NOT-S) and evaluation of the association between orofacial dysfunction and oral health-related quality of life in children and adolescents aged 8 to 14

Author(s)

Marina Severi Leme

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba
• Defense date: 2010-02-24

Examining board members

Maria Beatriz Duarte Gavião; Gustavo Hauber Gameiro; Regina Maria Puppin Rontani

• Advisor: Maria Beatriz Duarte Gavião

Abstract

Orofacial function includes vital actions, muscle posture (e.g., mouth and tongue posture) and acts as basis for social interaction in terms of speech, emotional communication, facial expression and appearance. In this way, orofacial dysfunction can be severely disabling and can compromise well-being and quality of life since childhood, and this evidence the importance of understanding the individual and ambiental factor influence on the relation health/quality of life. The objective of this work was to translate the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S) protocol, which assesses orofacial dysfunction, into Brazilian Portuguese and to apply the protocol to a sample of Brazilian children and adolescents (8 to 14 years old) and to investigate the relationship between orofacial dysfunction and oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) and the habits presence influence on OHQoL and anxiety levels. The instrument underwent the following steps: translation to Brazilian Portuguese, back translation, committee review, pre-test (n=20), application on a sample (n=332, divided in mixed and permanent dentition) and test re-test (n=50). The comparison of the original version with the back-translated showed great agreement. The committee added words and phrases and substituted adverbs and words by synonymies to make easier to understand. For pre-test, to each item was added the alternative "I don't understand" or "not applicable", two questions (IIA and IVB) had a rate of 15% of answers "I don't understand", were rewritten by the committee and reapplied on a sample of 20 children, and, in this way, the rate of answers "I don't understand" was nonexistent. NOT-S scores on all sample ranged from 0 to 7, score 0 had a rate of 5% and mean score was 2.64. The most frequent domain were III (Habits) and IV (Chewing and Swallowing) with a rate of 70 and 50%, respectively. No difference between genders was seen in relation to orofacial dysfunction, but the mean scores were higher in mixed than permanent dentition. The rate of intraexaminer agreement was 97.8% comparing first and re-test application. For assessment of the relationship between orofacial dysfunction and OHQoL, children and adolescents (n= 325; 8 to 14 years old) were assessed for orofacial dysfunction (NOT-S protocol) and fulfilled questionnaires of OHQoL (using the Child Perceptions Questionnaires - CPQ 8-10 and CPQ11-14) and anxiety (using the What I think and Feel scale. They were subdivided in groups based on age (8 to 10 and 11 to 14-year olds), habits (Habit, by answering yes to domain III of NOT-S; and Habit-free, by answering no to domain III) and gender (females and males). The majority of the sample was classified into the Habit group (71.2%). CPQ means scores were higher in the 11 to 14-year-old (p< 0.0001), Habit (p< 0.0001) and female (p< 0.001) groups. Anxiety level did not vary between Habit and Habit-free group but was higher in females than males (p< 0.001). The correlation between NOT-S and CPQ scores was r>0.30 and p< 0.0001. Our findings suggest a strong correlation between orofacial dysfunction and OHQoL and high impacts on OHQoL in the female, Habit and 11 to 14-year-old groups. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/06863-0 - Evaluation of orofacial disfunctions, quality of life, salivary cortisol level and eletromyographic activity of orbicular and mentual muscles in children aged from 8 to 14 years
• Grantee: Marina Severi Leme
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master