Research article
Reliability and validity of self-assessment of mouth opening: a validation study
Author affiliations
1 Specialist Registrar Oral Surgeon, University of Birmingham, St Chads Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6NN, UK
2 The School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, St Chad’s Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6NN, UK
Citation and License
BMC Oral Health 2012, 12:48 doi:10.1186/1472-6831-12-48
Published: 12 November 2012Abstract
Background
The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of patients’ mouth opening measurements in a research setting.
Methods
Firstly, 68 patients made repeated self-measurements of mouth opening using a cardboard scale (Therabite Range of Motion Scale – TRMS). Secondly, 80 patients enrolled in a clinical trial on morbidity after lower third molar surgery, made daily assessments during the postoperative week. Patients’ measurements were then compared to gold-standard clinicians’ measurements.
Results
Reliability of patients’ measurements was excellent with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.92. The patient’s measurements correlated well with the gold-standard clinician’s measurements, both for the first 68 patients (Pearson’s rho ranging from 0.86 to 0.90, p < 0.0001) as well as for the 80 patients enrolled in the clinical trial (rho = 0.82, p < 0.0001 at day 2, rho = 0.83, p < 0.0001 at final visit).
Conclusions
TRMS can be used by patients to produce reproducible and valid mouth opening measurements.
