BACKGROUND: Available screening instruments for identifying temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) exhibit methodological or logistic limitations. The authors conducted a study to develop and assess the validity of a self-report instrument in screening patients for pain-related TMDs. METHODS: By using psychometric methods for item selection, the authors developed short (three-item) and long (six-item) versions of the questionnaire and evaluated them for validity among 504 participants. RESULTS: Internal reliability was excellent, with coefficient α values of 0.87 and 0.93 for the short and long versions, respectively. When the authors dichotomized instrument scores at optimal thresholds, both versions had a sensitivity of 99 percent and a specificity of 97 percent for correct classification of the presence or absence of TMD. The specificity was at least 95 percent in the correct identification of people with nonpainful TMJ disorders or headahce without TMD pain. CONCLUSIONS: With use of appropriate psychometric methodology, the selected items exhibited excellent content validity. The excellent levels of reliability, sensitivity and specificity demonstrate the validity and usefulness of this instrument. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Using this instrument will allow clinicians to identify more readily-and cost-effectively-most patients with painful TMD conditions for whom early and reliable identification would have a significant effect on diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
BACKGROUND: Available screening instruments for identifying temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) exhibit methodological or logistic limitations. The authors conducted a study to develop and assess the validity of a self-report instrument in screening patients for pain-related TMDs. METHODS: By using psychometric methods for item selection, the authors developed short (three-item) and long (six-item) versions of the questionnaire and evaluated them for validity among 504 participants. RESULTS: Internal reliability was excellent, with coefficient α values of 0.87 and 0.93 for the short and long versions, respectively. When the authors dichotomized instrument scores at optimal thresholds, both versions had a sensitivity of 99 percent and a specificity of 97 percent for correct classification of the presence or absence of TMD. The specificity was at least 95 percent in the correct identification of people with nonpainful TMJ disorders or headahce without TMD pain. CONCLUSIONS: With use of appropriate psychometric methodology, the selected items exhibited excellent content validity. The excellent levels of reliability, sensitivity and specificity demonstrate the validity and usefulness of this instrument. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Using this instrument will allow clinicians to identify more readily-and cost-effectively-most patients with painful TMD conditions for whom early and reliable identification would have a significant effect on diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Authors: Eric L Schiffman; Edmond L Truelove; Richard Ohrbach; Gary C Anderson; Mike T John; Thomas List; John O Look Journal: J Orofac Pain Date: 2010
Authors: Eric Schiffman; Richard Ohrbach; Edmond Truelove; John Look; Gary Anderson; Jean-Paul Goulet; Thomas List; Peter Svensson; Yoly Gonzalez; Frank Lobbezoo; Ambra Michelotti; Sharon L Brooks; Werner Ceusters; Mark Drangsholt; Dominik Ettlin; Charly Gaul; Louis J Goldberg; Jennifer A Haythornthwaite; Lars Hollender; Rigmor Jensen; Mike T John; Antoon De Laat; Reny de Leeuw; William Maixner; Marylee van der Meulen; Greg M Murray; Donald R Nixdorf; Sandro Palla; Arne Petersson; Paul Pionchon; Barry Smith; Corine M Visscher; Joanna Zakrzewska; Samuel F Dworkin Journal: J Oral Facial Pain Headache Date: 2014
Authors: Ana M Velly; Eric L Schiffman; D Brad Rindal; Joana Cunha-Cruz; Gregg H Gilbert; Maryann Lehmann; Allan Horowitz; James Fricton Journal: J Am Dent Assoc Date: 2013-01 Impact factor: 3.634
Authors: Eric Bair; Naomi C Brownstein; Richard Ohrbach; Joel D Greenspan; Ronald Dubner; Roger B Fillingim; William Maixner; Shad B Smith; Luda Diatchenko; Yoly Gonzalez; Sharon M Gordon; Pei-Feng Lim; Margarete Ribeiro-Dasilva; Dawn Dampier; Charles Knott; Gary D Slade Journal: J Pain Date: 2013-12 Impact factor: 5.820