Validation of the English-language version of 5-item Oral Health Impact Profile

Abstract

Purpose: The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) is currently the most widely used oral health- related quality of life (OHRQoL) instrument. The study validated the English-language 5-item OHIP by investigating its psychometric properties of dimensionality, reliability, and validity in the adult general population. Methods: In 405 subjects (mean age 45 + 15.7 years, 63% female) from the 2014 Minnesota State Fair, dimensionality was investigated by confirmatory factor analysis. Construct validity was assessed by using a structural equation model correlating OHRQoL and self- reported global oral health status. Reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha for OHIP5 total scores. Results: In the confirmatory factor analysis, the unidimensional model fit OHIP5 well as indicated by fit indices (RMSEA: 0.07, SRMR: 0.03, comparative fit indices: >0.95). In the structural equation model, self-reported global oral health status correlated with 0.46 with the latent OHRQoL factor, indicating sufficient construct validity. Cronbach's alpha, a measure of score reliability, was ‘‘satisfactory'' with 0.75. Conclusion: We validated the English-language version of OHIP5 in the adult general popu- lation. Ultrashort instruments such as the 5-item OHIP provide a conceptually appealing and technically feasible opportunity to measure the impact of oral disorders and dental inter- ventions in settings such as general dental practice where the burden to collect and interpret OHRQoL information needs to be minimized.