Patients’ Preferences in Oral Health Related Quality of Life Assessments

Objectives: To determine patients’ preference and acceptance of computer touch screen-based assessments (CTSA) of oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) compared with conventional questionnaire based assessments (QBA). In addition, to investigate and compare time required to complete CTSA and QBA. Methods: An experimental randomized cross-over trial involving 49 subjects. Participants were block randomized into two groups: Group A completed CTSA first followed by QBA; Group B completed QBA first followed by CTSA of their OHRQoL, employing the 14-item Malaysian short-form version of the Oral Health Impact Profile [S-OHIP(M)]. On completion of tasks participations reported their preferred mode of assessment (touch screen, paper, or no preference). Time taken to complete assessments was recorded by a stopwatch. Preference for assessment method was determined, and variations in S-OHIP(M) scores, Cronbach’s alpha values (internal reliability) and time taken to complete assessments were compared for CTSA and QBA of OHRQoL. Result: There was no significant difference in S-OHIP(M) scores derived by CTSA versus QBA: 17.4 (sd 8.5) versus 17.6 (sd 8.9), P>0.05. In addition, there was no significant difference in reliability (Cronbach’s alpha values) of CTSA versus QBA (P>0.05). Most (67.3%, 33) preferred the CTSA approach. Time taken to complete CTSA compared to QBA was longer (137.8 (sd 41.2 ) sec Vs 115.7 (sd 42.8) sec,  P<0.01. Conclusion: In this experimental randomized cross-over trial, a CTSA of OHRQoL was preferred to a conventional QBA approach. OHRQoL values and reliability of assessments were similar for both CTSA and QBA of OHRQoL. Time taken to complete CTSA was somewhat longer than the QBA of OHRQoL. These findings have implications in implementing OHRQoL in research and practice.