The Modified Oral Status Survey Tool: Development and Psychometrics for Accessible Oral Health Data Collection

Understudied populations such as those with intellectual disabilities (ID) face significant disease burden and oral health disparities. Systematic exclusion from oral health research contributes to resultant health inequalities, limits understanding of the determinants and implications of disease, and hinders the ability to improve health through evidence-based policy and healthcare planning. This study reports the development of the Modified Oral Status Survey Tool (MOSST), an accessible, low burden oral health assessment tool designed for use with populations who require communication and cognitive supports. It explores the MOSST's key measurement attributes: conceptual coverage, content validity, reliability, feasibility, and cost.

The study followed an iterative tool development process. The MOSST was tested in two steps: (1) attribute testing of an interim version (MOSST v0.1) for inter and intra-rater reliability, burden, cost and feasibility; and (2) content validity testing of MOSST v1.0 using an expert and a Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) panel. Field testing involved data collection from Wave 5 of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA), with data from n = 469 participants undertaking a MOSST assessment.

Data from n = 469 adults with ID were analysed. The MOSST demonstrated very strong/strong inter- and intra-rater reliability for tooth count (ICC = 0.999), denture wear, occlusal pairs, and oral pain (k = 0.808-1.00). Content validity was confirmed through expert and PPI panel reviews; item-level Content Validity Indices (iCVI) ranging from 0.85 to 1.00 were gained from the expert panel responses to measure agreement. This review process led to refinements, including replacing items representing occlusal function with functional tooth units and relocating the subjective oral pain item. This led to a final MOSSTv1.0 tool and associated training, protocol and resources. The MOSST was acceptable: 98% (n = 65) reporting data collection process acceptable; 100% (n = 66) painless and 100% (n = 66) not time-consuming. The cost per assessment was low (approx. €6.69) due to low equipment and staff costs.

The MOSST is a seven-item tool recording indicators of oral function and disease. It was shown to be reliable, valid, and feasible for use by non-dental assessors among people with ID. It is low cost, low burden, quick and feasible and offers potential for use among understudied communities.