Validation of a Patient-Reported Questionnaire on Adjunctive Methods to Accelerate Orthodontic Tooth Movement

Objective This study aimed to develop and validate a patient-reported questionnaire to comprehensively assess perceptions during adjunctive orthodontic therapy, ensuring methodological rigor and cross-cultural applicability. Material and Methods A structured questionnaire was developed, consisting of 21 items investigating the emotional, physical, and functional domains. A multi-phase validation process was then implemented. Orthodontic experts (n = 12) evaluated the content validity using Lynn’s criteria. In addition, both the orthodontic experts and 30 patients assessed face validity to ensure clarity, readability, and relevance. Based on expert consensus, the questionnaire was refined, expanded to 22 items, and subjected to a second round of validation. To guarantee cross-cultural applicability, the instrument was translated into Arabic by a certified bureau, using forward and back-translation. Reliability was examined using Cronbach’s alpha to measure internal consistency across domains. Results The questionnaire demonstrated exceptional content validity (S-CVI = 1.00), perfect face validity (100% agreement), and acceptable internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha 0.722 for pain/discomfort items; 0.708 for pain/function items; 0.750 for psychosocial items). The instrument successfully captured multidimensional aspects of patient perception, including pain intensity, analgesic use, functional difficulties, and psychosocial consequences. The translation ensured linguistic accuracy and cultural adaptability in English and Arabic. Conclusion This validated bilingual questionnaire provides a reliable tool for assessing patient perceptions of adjunctive orthodontic acceleration techniques. It offers a practical framework for integrating patient perspectives into orthodontic research/clinical protocols. Its methodological strength and cross-cultural adaptability establish a valuable reference for future patient-centered investigations. Importantly, it represents the first questionnaire dedicated to adjunctive orthodontic methods.