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Development of a Word Instrument to Test Dental Health Literacy: The DFLD Determination of Functional Literacy in Dentistry

Kapoor P, Prasad S, Tandon S

Aim: This study aims to develop and pilot test an instrument to measure dental health literacy (DFLD: Determination of Functional Literacy in dentistry). Methodology: 320 patients attending a dental clinic were approached for the study with prior permission from concerned authorities. Each subject was administered the instrument DFLD along with Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (REALD-30) to measure oral health literacy. The subject’s oral health related quality of life was also assessed using Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Internal reliability for DFLD was checked using Cronbach’s alpha and its validity by correlating the final score with the scores of REALD- 30 and OHIP-14. Results: DFLD displayed good convergent and predictive validity when correlated with scores of REALD-30 and OHIP-14, respectively. Cronbach’s alpha value for instrument reliability was found to be 0.84. Conclusion: DFLD is an efficient instrument which can be used to assess health literacy in the dental arena