Construct validity of locker's global oral health item

With clinical oral examinations not always possible in health surveys,researchers may instead be invited to add questions to a wider health survey. in such situations,an item is needed which adequately represents both clinical and self-reported oral health. this study investigated the clinical validity of locker's global self-reported oral health item among young middle-aged adults in populations in new zealand and australia. clinical examination and self-report data (including the ohip-14) were obtained from recent national dental surveys in nz and australia,and from age-38 assessments in the dunedin multidisciplinary health and development study. national dataset analyses involved 35- to 44-year-olds. caries and tooth-loss experience showed mostly consistent,statistically significant gradients across the locker item responses; those responding 'excellent' had the lowest scores,and those responding 'poor' the highest. periodontitis experience gradients in the nz national sample were mainly as hypothesized; those rating their oral health as 'poor' had the highest disease experience. ohip-14 gradients across the locker item responses were consistent and as hypothesized. the proportion of disease in the population borne by those 'fair' or 'poor' ranged from 26% to 72%. these findings provide preliminary support for the measure's validity as a global self-reported oral health measure in young middle-aged adults. © 2012 international & american associations for dental research.