Development and validation of a quality of life questionnaire for patients with oral potentially malignant disorders

Publication date: Available online 11 November 2016
Source:Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology
Author(s): Jyothi Tadakamadla, Santhosh Kumar, Ratilal Lalloo, Newell W. Johnson
ObjectiveTo develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of a Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire for patients with Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMD).Study designFor item generation, fifteen personal interviews and three focus group discussions were conducted with OPMD patients; Existing QoL questionnaires were reviewed, and inputs from specialist clinicians (n=10) were considered. Data collected from patients were analysed using NVivo. This led to identification of themes, item writing, scaling, item reduction, formatting and pre-testing of the newly developed questionnaire. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were assessed in a separate sample of 300 subjects (150 each of OPMD patients and healthy subjects).ResultsSixty items were generated from the qualitative data and by reviewing existing questionnaires. The final questionnaire, after item reduction, comprised 20 questions which could be categorised under four domains. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a four-factor structure that conforms to the four domains. The OPMDQoL questionnaire exhibited good discriminant and convergent validity with patients reporting poorer QoL than healthy subjects and correlating significantly with existing questionnaires designed for similar purposes.ConclusionsOur OPMDQoL questionnaire was found to be valid and reliable. We recommend that it be applied in epidemiological and treatment studies of these disorders.



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