[Temporomandibular disorders: Evaluation of the usefulness of a self-test questionnaire].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A self-test questionnaire has been provided in the internet and in some dental offices for some time now. By using this questionnaire, interested individuals may assess whether they have a temporomandibular disorder (TMD) which might require therapy. It is the aim of this article to examine whether the 11 questions are apt to reliably identify patients with suspected TMDs within a given population.

METHODS:

Each question has been examined for its relevance by resorting to the current literature. Accordingly, the inclusion of each question into the self-test questionnaire has been rated as suitable or unsuitable.

RESULTS:

Only 2½ of the 11 questions are useful to detect individuals with as-yet undiagnosed TMDs.

CONCLUSIONS:

Due to its missing content validity, the questionnaire cannot be recommended.

• Authors: Jens C Türp, Hans Jürgen Schindler, Gerd Antes
• Journal: Zeitschrift fur Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualitat im Gesundheitswesen (Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes) Vol. 107 Issue 4-5 Pg. 285-90 ( 2013) ISSN: 2212-0289 [Electronic] Netherlands
• Vernacular Title: Kraniomandibuläre Dysfunktionen: Überprüfung der Eignung eines Selbsttest-Fragebogens.
• PMID: 23916266 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Review, Validation Study)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

Topics

• Diagnosis, Differential
• Diagnostic Self Evaluation
• Humans
• Internet
• Psychometrics (statistics & numerical data)
• Reproducibility of Results
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome (diagnosis, etiology)