Assessing Older Adults' Masticatory Efficiency. Issue 6 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cusson, Valérie; Caron, Christian; Gaudreau, Pierrette; Morais, José A.; Shatenstein, Bryna; Payette, Hélène
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Volume 63:Issue 6(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 1192
• Page End: 1196
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/jgs.13443
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-8614

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jgs13443-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jgs13443-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To determine internal consistency and criterion validity of a questionnaire assessing perception of masticatory efficiency in community‐dwelling older adults.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13443-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Secondary cross‐sectional analysis of baseline data from the Québec Longitudinal Study on Nutrition and Successful Aging (NuAge).</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13443-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p>NuAge is a 5‐year (2003–08) observational study of 1, 793 men and women aged 67 to 84 in good general health at recruitment.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13443-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Participants</title> <p>A sample of 1, 789 was used to determine internal consistency of the questionnaire. A subsample (n = 94) of the cohort who underwent a clinical test directly measuring masticatory efficiency was used to determine criterion validity of the questionnaire.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13443-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Measurements</title> <p>The questionnaire was a subset of the Oral Health Impact Profile containing 7 Likert‐scale questions (score 0–28 points). Masticatory efficiency was assessed using a validated clinical test measuring ability to chew a raw carrot (Swallowing Threshold Test Index, score 0–100%). For perceived and measured data, a higher score indicated better masticatory efficiency.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13443-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Internal consistency of the questionnaire was deemed good (Cronbach alpha = 0.803). Mean scores were generally high (men, 25.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 24.7–25.9; women, 24.3, 95% CI = 23.7–25.0), indicating good perceived masticatory efficiency for men and women. Mean performance test scores were low (men, 60.8%, 95% CI = 57.3–64.2; women, 61.2%, 95% CI = 57.7–64.7). No significant relationship between perceived and measured masticatory efficiency was observed (Pearson correlation coefficient = −0.14, <italic>P</italic> = .22).</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13443-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Despite good internal consistency of the questionnaire and the recognized validity of the test, people's perception of their masticatory efficiency does not reflect objective efficiency as measured using a clinical test.</p> </sec> </abstract>