Validade e confiabilidade do Instrumento de Diagnóstico Epidemiológico da Disfunção Temporomandibular - IDE/DTM

Abstract

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is a highly underreported health problem. In addition, its diagnosis is complex and requires the use of valid and reliable instruments for use in epidemiological studies. Objective: To validate the Epidemiological Diagnostic Instrument for TMD (EDI/TMD), with applicability for national epidemiological studies. Methodology: This is a validation study, internal structure validity through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), reliability (internal consistency, interobserver and intraobserver), and convergent validity of the EDI/TMD were assessed using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) as the gold standards. The sample was composed of 221 volunteers, 120 in the EFA stage, 50 for the test-retest, and 101 for convergent validity. Results: AFE showed three factors (Muscles TMD, Joint TMD, and Differential Diagnosis) with all items having factor loadings > 0.4, which explained 73.3% of the total variance. Good internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha= 0.775. Reliability ranged from substantial to excellent, reproducibility interobserver (Kappa=0.74-1.00, ICC=0.91-0.97; p< 0.001) and intraobserver (Kappa= 0.75-1.00, ICC=0.80-0.98; p< 0.001). The EDI/TMD total score showed valid and satisfactory diagnostic criteria according to the DC/TMD (Kappa= 0.906; p<0.001), with the ability to differentiate between individuals without and with TMD with a cut-off point of 4.9 (Sensitivity=1.0; Specificity=1.0; AUR=1.0); Mixed TMD with a cut-off point of 14 or more (Sensitivity=0.8; Specificity=1.0; AUR=0.987); and either Muscles TMD (Sensitivity=1.0; Specificity= 0.88; PPV= 0.89; NPV=1.0) or Joint TMD (Sensitivity=0.95; Specificity= 0.87; PPV= 0.83; NPV=0.96), with a cut-off point between 5-13.9, with the diagnosis obtained from the highest score in each factor (Muscles or Joint). Conclusion: The EDI/TMD is a valid and reliable assessment tool, with adequate and satisfactory psychometric properties, capable of diagnosing people with TMD and classifying the subtype of the condition (Muscles, Joint, and Mixed).