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. 2025 Aug 11:36:e246377.
doi: 10.1590/0103-644020256377. eCollection 2025.

Development and validation of a questionnaire about fluoride knowledge

Ana Beatriz Chevitarese  1 , Karla Lorene de França Leite  1 , Kenderson Santos Silva  1 , Lucas Alves Jural  1 , Deborah Rachel Caldas da Rocha  2 , Matheus França Perazzo  3 , Jaime Aparecido Cury  2 , Lucianne Cople Maia  1
Affiliations

Development and validation of a questionnaire about fluoride knowledge

Ana Beatriz Chevitarese et al. Braz Dent J. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To develop and validate a questionnaire about fluoride knowledge (FKQ).

Methods: Questions to evaluate knowledge about fluoride sources and daily fluoridated water and dentifrices consumption were developed and validated. Sociodemographic data were also collected from the participants, and data were collected for testing their psychometric properties and instrument validation. The model adjustment was tested in 456 dentists, students, and health personnel via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with unidimensional categorical indicators. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to estimate the instrument's reliability. External validation measurements were represented by questions related to sociodemographic data, fluoride source knowledge and daily practices, and the consumption of fluoride water and dentifrices.

Results: The model showed adequate fit via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); the fit indices were comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.941, Tucker‒Lewis index (TLI) = 0.927, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.075, with factorial loadings varying between 0.25 and 0.91. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the 13 items was 0.68, demonstrating substantial and adequate reliability in the total instrument.

Conclusion: The FKQ can estimate the knowledge of dentists, dental students, and health personnel about fluoride use.

Objetivo: Desenvolver e validar um questionário sobre conhecimento em fluoreto (FKQ).Métodos: Foram elaboradas e validadas questões para avaliar o conhecimento sobre fontes de fluoreto e o consumo diário de água fluoretada e dentifrícios. Também foram coletados dados sociodemográficos dos participantes, além de informações para testar as propriedades psicométricas e a validação do instrumento. O ajuste do modelo foi testado em 456 dentistas, estudantes e profissionais de saúde por meio da análise fatorial confirmatória (CFA) com indicadores categóricos unidimensionais. O coeficiente alfa de Cronbach foi utilizado para estimar a confiabilidade do instrumento. As medidas de validação externa foram representadas por questões relacionadas aos dados sociodemográficos, conhecimento das fontes de fluoreto, práticas diárias e consumo de água fluoretada e dentifrícios. Resultados: O modelo apresentou um ajuste adequado na análise fatorial confirmatória (CFA), com índices de ajuste: índice de ajuste comparativo (CFI) = 0,941, índice de Tucker-Lewis (TLI) = 0,927 e erro médio quadrático de aproximação (RMSEA) = 0,075, com cargas fatoriais variando entre 0,25 e 0,91. O coeficiente alfa de Cronbach para os 13 itens foi de 0,68, demonstrando confiabilidade substancial e adequada para o instrumento como um todo.Conclusão: O FKQ pode estimar o conhecimento de dentistas, estudantes de odontologia e profissionais de saúde sobre o uso do fluoreto.

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