Why are we "weighting"? An assessment of a self-weighting approach to measuring oral health-related quality of life

Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2004 Feb;32(1):19-24. doi: 10.1046/j.0301-5661.2003.00110.x.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether or not self-weighting at an item level contributes to the performance of an oral health-related quality-of-life measure.

Design: Data were collected in two national surveys conducted a month apart, one using the "weighted" measure and the other an "unweighted" version of the UK oral health-related quality-of-life measure. In addition, sociodemographic and self-reported oral health status were recorded.

Results: The UK oral health-related quality-of-life measure discriminated between groups based on age group (<65, 65 and older) and social class (higher and lower) irrespective of the version of the questionnaire used. Both versions also showed significant associations with self-reported oral health: denture status (P < 0.01) and number of teeth possessed (P < 0.01). In addition, both versions demonstrated predictive ability in identifying those in prosthetic need (<20 teeth and without recourse to a denture, P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Weighting the UK oral health-related quality-of-life instrument does not improve the psychometric properties of the instrument and thus raises questions about the value of self-weighting at an item level.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Dental Health Surveys*
  • Dentures / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oral Health*
  • Psychometrics / methods*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Self-Assessment
  • Sex Factors
  • Sickness Impact Profile
  • Social Class
  • Tooth Loss / psychology*
  • United Kingdom