Source
Department of Preventive Medicine/Biostatistics and Medical Decision-Making, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan. mnaito@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
This study sought to develop a Japanese version of the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and validate its use in an elderly Japanese population.
METHODS:
The GOHAI scale was translated in a standardized way consisting of forward translation, pilot study, and backward translation. Psychometric properties of the final version were assessed on 175 participants (mean age: 70.0 years, SD 6.4).
RESULTS:
The response rate was more than 98% for each item. The reliability in terms of a Cronbach's alpha value was 0.89. The mean GOHAI scores were significantly lower for participants with poor perceived oral health (P<0. 001) or poor perceived general health (P<0.01). Significant correlations were observed between the GOHAI scores and the general health or physical functioning scores of the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (P<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS:
The present study showed that the Japanese version of the GOHAI was psychometrically valid in an elderly sample population.