Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the short form of the Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire (DHEQ-15).

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to validate the short form of the Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire (DHEQ-15) in Chinese patients with dentine hypersensitivity (DH).

METHODS: In total, 200 patients with DH were recruited to complete the questionnaire. The reliability of the DHEQ-15 was evaluated using internal consistency and test-retest methods. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to identify domains of the DHEQ-15. Convergent validity was determined by analyzing the correlation between DHEQ-15 subscale scores and the global rating of oral health question.

RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha value (internal reliability) for the total DHEQ-15 score was 0.934 (higher to the original DHEQ-15' 0.924), and the intraclass correlation coefficient value (test-retest reliability) was 0.894 (lower to the original DHEQ-15' 0.939). The EFA identified three components with eigenvalues >1, explaining 53.0, 17.1, and 12.3% of the variance, respectively, accounting for a total of 82.4% of the variance. The three components named 'restrictions' (three items), 'changes in eating habits' (six items), and 'emotions and identity' (six items). In terms of convergent validity, the DHEQ-15 subscale was significant highly negatively correlated to the global oral health rating.

CONCLUSIONS: The results provide initial evidence that the DHEQ-15 can be properly used for assessment of patients with DH in China.