Abstract
FSPD-34, a questionnaire to comprehensively diagnose periodontal disease at a worksite, was developed. It was based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model. The questionnaire consisted of multi-factorial sub-scales which were mutually related. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the reliability and the discriminating validity of the epidemiological diagnostic sub-scale for self-assessment of periodontal disease. Subjects of this study were 258 adults who visited dental clinics where the same periodontal care system was conducted. The subjects responded to the questionnaire consisting of 6 items concerning self-assessment of periodontal disease. Furthermore, they had a periodontal examination using CPI of each individual tooth. The internal consistency of the sub-scale was evaluated using the Cronbach a coefficient. The discriminating validity between the responses of the questionnaire and results of CPI score was evaluated using multiplex logistic regression. CPI score was the external standard, and seven items, including self-assessments and sex, were independent variables. The Cronbach a coefficient was 0.71. The predictive accuracy was 71% for all subjects, more than 75% for subjects 30 years old and over, and 80% for subjects 40 years old and over, and 82% for subjects 45 years old and over. The results of this study suggest that the new scale of FSPD-34 was suitable to diagnose periodontal disease in worksite population.
