Patient-generated aspects in oral rehabilitation decision making. II. Comparison of an individual systematic interview method and the oral health impact profile.

PURPOSE

The effect of impaired oral functions is best described by the patient, and a shift toward a patient-oriented decision-making process in oral rehabilitation is evident. The Oral Health Impact Profile-49 (OHIP-49) questionnaire has been the most commonly used method to measure oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in dentistry. An individualized method, the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life-Direct Weighing (SEIQoL-DW), has proven to fulfill most of the criteria for a method to assist in the decision-making process. The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of the OHIP-49 questionnaire and the SEIQoL-DW method in measuring OHRQoL and generating useful information for decision making in oral rehabilitation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty participants in need of oral rehabilitation were enrolled in the study. Patients received a clinical examination, were interviewed using the SEIQoL-DW, filled out the OHIP-49 questionnaire, and answered two global oral health-rating questions.

RESULTS

The SEIQoL-DW generated additional information compared to the OHIP-49. The information was more oral- and treatment-specific, including consultation issues and the patient-practitioner relationship. The overall SEIQoL-DW and OHIP-49 scores were significantly correlated. The OHIP-49 and SEIQoL-DW scores were related to oral health subjectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The SEIQoL-DW method proved a useful aid in clinical decision making for oral rehabilitation. The SEIQoL-DW was more appropriate for generating information useful for decision making than measuring OHRQoL; the OHIP-49 was more appropriate for measuring OHRQoL than generating information.