Sensitivity of COHQoL to Detect Change in Orthodontic Treatment

Objectives: To assess the ability of the Child Oral Health Quality of Life Questionnaire (COHQoL) to detect change following provision of orthodontic treatment. Methods: Children were recruited from an orthodontic clinic just prior to starting orthodontic treatment. Children completed a copy of the Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ11-14) and their parents completed a copy of the Parents Perception Questionnaire (PPQ) and the Family Impact Scale (FIS). Normative outcomes were assessed using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) and the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index. Change scores and effect sizes were calculated for all scales. Results: Complete data were collected for 45 children and 26 parents. The mean age was 12.6 years (S.D= 1.4). There were significant pre-post treatment changes in DAI and PAR scores and significant changes in scores on all three questionnaires (p<0.05). Effect sizes for the latter were moderate. Global transition judgments collected post-treatment also confirmed pre-post treatment improvements in oral health and well-being. Conclusion: The results provide preliminary evidence of the sensitivity to change of the COHQoL questionnaires when used with children receiving orthodontic treatment. However, the study needs to be repeated in different treatment settings and with a larger sample size in order to confirm the utility of the measure.