The German version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ-G11-14): Translation process, reliability, and validity in the general population

The aims of this study were to develop a German version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11-14, a measure of oral health-related quality of life in 11-14-year-old children) and to assess the instrument's reliability and validity in German children ages 11-14. The English original version of the CPQ11-14 questionnaire was translated into German (CPQ-G11-14) by a forward-backward translation method. Reliability was investigated in 1,061 subjects aged 11-14 years from a regional sample (Wernigerode, Saxonia-Anhalt, Germany) who were recruited during the annual dental public health examination. The subjects completed the CPQ-G11-14 and were clinically examined for the presence of dental caries, plaque accumulation, and malocclusion. In the reliability assessment, questionnaire summary score test-retest reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0. 83, 0. 73-0. 94) and internal consistency was satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha, lower limit of CI = 0. 87, 0. 86). Validity of the CPQ-G11-14 questionnaire was supported by correlations with global ratings of oral health and overall well-being that were moderate in magnitude and met expectations (r = 0. 35; 95% CI, 0. 30-0. 40 and r = 0. 30; 95% CI, 0. 24-0. 35, respectively). In conclusion, the German version of the CPQ11-14 was reliable and valid in a general population of 11-14-year-old German children.