Comparison of the self-administered and interviewer-administered modes of the child-OIDP

This was a cross-sectional study of 144 consecutive children aged 9–16 years referred to orthodontic clinics in Bedfordshire. To compare the two administration modes of the Child-OIDP, the sample was randomly split in two groups. The two groups were analysed in terms of baseline characteristics, self-perceived measures (self-rated oral health, self-perceived need for braces, happiness with dental appearance, frequency of thinking about dental appearance), Child-OIDP performance scores and overall score and psychometric properties (criterion validity and internal reliability).No significant difference between the two groups was found in relation to their sociodemographic profile and self-perceived measures. The self- and interviewer-administered Child-OIDP had identical mean scores and did not differ in recording any of the eight performances (p ≥ 0.206). For criterion validity, the correlation coefficients of the Child-OIDP with self-perceived measures were not different between the two modes of administration (p ≥ 0.118). Furthermore, the Cronbach's alpha values of the two groups were similar (p = 0.466).This study demonstrated that the self-administered Child-OIDP performed the same as the original interviewer-administered mode, while at the same time reducing administration burden. This provides support for the use of the self-administered Child-OIDP. Further studies should focus on a more comprehensive psychometric evaluation.This study assesses differences between two different administration modes of an oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) measure for children. The Child-OIDP [1] is an interviewer-administered OHRQoL measure that assesses the frequency and severity of oral impacts on eight daily life performances. Through its condition-specific feature, where the oral impacts are attributed to specific oral conditions according to the respondent's perceptions, the Child-OIDP can be used in needs assessment and for planning services [2]. Indeed, its use