Validation of an Arabic version of the short form of the health literacy in dentistry scale: a cross-sectional study

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Background: The Arabic version of the short form of the Health Literacy in Dentistry scale (HeLD) had not yet been developed in previously published studies. This study aims to test the reliability and validity of an Arabic version of the short form of the HeLD questionnaire. Methods: The short version of HeLD was translated into Arabic and the psychometric properties were evaluated in a sample of 1,889 female students in their first year of secondary school. Test–retest reliability was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Content validity was investigated by creating a correlation matrix between the individual items of the HeLD-14, and criterion validity was determined using Pearson’s correlation between the HeLD-14 score and an overall oral health rating. Sensitivity analysis was assessed by testing the associations of the HeLD-14 score with oral health-related behaviours and residential area. Results: The Arabic version of HeLD-14 (A-HeLD-14) had acceptable ICC (0.54) and excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.92). The correlations between the items of the A-HeLD-14 varied from 0.3 to 0.9. The A-HeLD-14 showed a statistically significant correlation with the overall oral health rating (r = 0.37, p < 0.001). The median A-HeLD-14 score was significantly higher in participants who brushed their teeth frequently (51.31), visited the dentist regularly (52.00), consumed fresh fruit frequently (51) and consumed soda or energy drinks infrequently (51.00) than participants who brushed their teeth infrequently (41.50), visited the dentist irregularly (49.00), consumed fresh fruit infrequently (47) and consumed soda or energy drinks frequently (48.00). Conclusion: The A-HeLD-14 instrument demonstrates sufficient validity, reliability, and sensitivity for measuring oral health literacy among the Arabic-speaking population.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummer638
TidsskriftBMC Oral Health
Vol/bind24
Udgave nummer1
Antal sider11
ISSN1472-6831
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2024

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
The principal investigator, M. Alzeer, took part in the conception of the study, collected the data, conducted statistical analysis, and was the main writer of the manuscript. E. \u00D8zhayat, A. AlJameel and K. Rosing all took part in the conception of the study and contributed to the writing of the manuscript. The authors would like to thank King Saud University for scholarship through the External Joint Supervision Programme, and for the funds through the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in Germany. We would also like to thank the chairmen of education in the main Eastern area, Al-Ahsa, and Hafar al-Batin for facilitating access to the schools as well as the school principals who facilitated the study and the school students who participated in the study. Furthermore, we would like to thank the statistician and the translators for their efficient work.

Funding Information:
Open access funding provided by University of Copenhagen. The research is supported by King Saud University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the External Joint Supervision Programme. King Saud University sponsors/funds the research through the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in Germany.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

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