Work

Diagnostic Precision: Validating the Oral Disease Recognition Scale

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a scale to assess the ability of dentists to recognize the clinical presentation of oral disease encompassing a range of benign, potentially malignant, and malignant conditions. METHODS: The research employed a cross-sectional online survey methodology. Following ethical approval, a scale was developed by the research team and consisted of seven patient cases encompassing a range of benign, premalignant, and malignant oral conditions. The scale was pretested, and the external validity of the scale was evaluated. RESULTS: Responses were received from a total of 254 participant. Interrogation of case performance data overall and by respondent subgroups, as well as consideration of response profiles, item analysis characteristics, reliability, and exploratory factor analysis support the existence of a single underlying construct that is measured consistently by the seven cases across respondent groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study developed and validated a scale to evaluate the abilities of dentists and oral health care professionals to recognize oral benign, premalignant, and malignant disorders. The scale may serve as a useful tool to assess clinicians' ability to recognize oral cancer and identify potential cognitive biases in their diagnostic approach.

Source: Oral Diseases

DOI: 10.1111/odi.70064

Authors: Kamran Ali, Daniel Zahra, Mahdi Mutahar, Muhammad Ali Malik, Mahwish Raja

Institutions: Qatar University, University of Plymouth, University of Portsmouth, Great Western Hospital, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Language: English

Topic: Oral Health Pathology and Treatment

Subfield: Periodontics

Field: Dentistry

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,990