Reliability and validation of a Brazilian version of the Oral Health Impact Profile for assessing edentulous subjects.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the reliability and to validate a Brazilian version of Oral Health Impact Profile for assessing edentulous subjects (OHIP-EDENT), an inventory for measuring oral health-related quality of life of edentulous subjects. The sample comprised 65 complete denture wearers (23 men, mean age of 69.1 +/- 10.3 years). The translated OHIP-EDENT was applied on two occasions with a washout period of 3 months. Reliability was assessed by an internal consistency analysis and a test-retest approach. A preliminary validation process was conducted by a qualitative approach/interview. Results of internal consistency showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.86 or 0.90 for the first or second appointment respectively. Through the test-retest analysis, an intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.57 was found, and individual answers reflected a broad range of agreement. Interviewed volunteers (n = 6) comprehended most questions well. In conclusion, the Brazilian version of OHIP-EDENT is adequate for assessing the oral health-related quality of life for edentulous subjects.