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Turkish validity and reliability study of Temporomandibular Disorders-7 (TMD-7) scale
Umit Erkut1, Abdurrahim Yıldız2
1Rumeli University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Istanbul, Turkey.
Objective:
This study aimed to perform the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Turkish version of the Temporomandibular Disorders-7 (TMD-7) scale as a brief and reliable screening tool for temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms.
Methods:
Eighty participants (18-40 years) with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain or crepitus were included. The TMD-7 scale was translated and culturally adapted following international guidelines. Participants completed both the TMD-7 and the validated Turkish version of the Mandibular Functional Impairment Questionnaire (MFIQ) to assess criterion validity. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability with the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), and criterion validity through Spearman's correlation. Construct validity was tested using simple linear regression.
Results:
The Turkish TMD-7 scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.985, p < 0.001) and high test-retest reliability (ICC=0.985, 95 % CI: 0.97-0.99, p < 0.001). Moderate positive correlations with MFIQ scores at both assessments (r = 0.577 and r = 0.559, p < 0.001) supported criterion validity. Regression analyses confirmed that TMD-7 scores significantly predicted MFIQ outcomes (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
The Turkish TMD-7 is a valid, reliable, and time-efficient instrument for assessing TMD-related pain and functional limitations. Due to its brevity and ease of administration, the TMD-7 is highly suitable for both clinical practice and research settings.
