Psychometric properties and performance of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14s-ar) among Sudanese adults

The aims of this study were to develop a Sudanese-Arabic version of the English-language Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), assess the psychometric properties and performance of this new instrument, and then use it to investigate the impacts of selected oral disorders on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Sudanese adolescents and adults (age, ≥ 16 years; 781 males and 1107 females) attending outpatient clinics in Khartoum State were enrolled. The OHIP-14 was adapted, and the validity and reliability of the Sudanese-Arabic version of the questionnaire (OHIP-14s-ar) were assessed. The OHIP-14s-ar was then used to measure OHRQoL. Pearson correlation coefficients and multivariate analysis were used to examine relationships between OHRQoL and characteristics ascertained by interviews and clinical examinations. The OHIP-14s-ar had suitable construct validity, reliability, and internal consistency (i.e., Cronbach α). More than half of the participants reported that oral disorders affected quality of life; psychological discomfort and physical pain were the most frequently reported oral health impacts. Our results suggest that being female, tooth decay, systemic illness, and dry mouth worsen OHRQoL. The oral disorder with the greatest impact was dental caries, and tooth condition seemed to be more important than absence of teeth. The OHIP-14s-ar yielded convincing psychometric data, and its performance makes it a suitable measure for future cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in Sudan.