Toward a Comprehensive Instrument of Oral Health Literacy in Spanish

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Literacy Measurement
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Assessing oral health literacy is crucial for effective public health interventions.
• Existing health literacy tools may not adequately capture the nuances of oral health communication.
• Developing culturally relevant instruments is essential for accurate assessment in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Spanish Oral Health Literacy Scale (SOHLS) in a Mexican adult population.
• To evaluate the reliability and construct validity of the SOHLS.
• To provide a culturally adapted tool for measuring oral health literacy.

Main Methods:

• A repeated survey was conducted with 227 Mexican adults.
• Participants completed the SOHLS, based on the Health Literacy Test.
• Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient.
• Construct validity was evaluated against self-perceived oral health and the OHIP-14.

Main Results:

• The SOHLS demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .748) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.766).
• Significant correlations were found between SOHLS scores and self-perceived oral health (r=0.426) and OHIP-14 (r=-0.336).
• The instrument shows significant construct validity, though areas for improvement were identified.

Conclusions:

• The SOHLS is a reliable instrument for assessing oral health literacy in Mexican adults.
• The scale exhibits significant construct validity, supporting its use in research and practice.
• Further validation studies may enhance the SOHLS's psychometric properties and clinical utility.