Development of a Questionnaire to Record Preschoolers´s Socio-epidemiological Profiles

Very often epidemiological research and health service planning rely on information gathered by means of questionnaires. The production of valid and reliable survey instruments depends on the use of proper research methods. Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the development of a questionnaire designed to record the socioeconomic profile of preschool children with dental treatment needs. Methods: At first, a bibliographic search was performed to identify the most prevalent oral health problems and their associated risk factors in this age group. A prototype form containing 94 questions was tested in 114 patients. The data collected were analyzed by a focus group that evaluated the relevance and the easiness of comprehension of each question. The questions with low discriminative power were eliminated and those difficult to understand were modified. Results: A new questionnaire composed only by closed-ended questions was produced. The response options were chosen according to their frequency of endorsement and their epidemiological relevance. The layout of the questionnaire was revised by a designer. The revised questionnaire was tested in the same way that it would be administered and further modifications were made. The final version of the instrument was submitted to a panel composed of four experts. Conclusions: the questionnaire presented both content and face validity, being ready to have its reliability tested.