Validation of the Vietnamese electronic child-OIDP for 12–15-year-old schoolchildren

Objectives: Traditional clinical indicators alone cannot adequately capture the broader psychosocial and functional effects of oral diseases on children’s daily lives. The Child Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (Child-OIDP) index is a widely recognized measure of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Vietnamese electronic version of the Child-OIDP for 12–15-year-old schoolchildren in Ho Chi Minh City. Methods: A total of 505 students aged 12–15 years from four public schools participated in this cross-sectional validation study. The original English Child-OIDP questionnaire was translated into Vietnamese following WHO guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation: forward–backward translation, expert review, and pilot testing. Participants underwent standardized oral examinations assessing dental caries, gingival condition, and malocclusion, followed by completion of the electronic Child-OIDP. Psychometric properties assessed included: Validity: content, construct, and concurrent validity Reliability: internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) and test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC) Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to determine dimensional structure. Results: Overall, 65.1% of participants reported at least one oral impact within the past three months. The most frequently affected daily performances were eating (45.1%) and smiling (35.4%), while studying (11.5%) was least affected. The Cronbach’s α = 0.82 and ICC = 0.89, indicating excellent internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Child-OIDP scores were significantly higher among participants reporting poorer self-rated oral health and lower satisfaction with oral condition (p < 0.001), confirming concurrent validity. Factor analyses supported a three-factor model— functional, psychosocial, and social —which demonstrated a superior model fit compared to the traditional two-factor structure. Dental caries and malocclusion emerged as significant predictors of lower OHRQoL (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The Vietnamese electronic version of the Child-OIDP demonstrated strong validity and reliability in assessing OHRQoL among adolescents. It is suitable for use in large-scale epidemiological studies and digital oral health programs, supporting data-driven policy and preventive initiatives targeting Vietnamese youth.