Validation of a Modified O'Leary Plaque Index Compared to the Standard OHI-S Among Elementary School Students at SDN Pudakpayung 02, Semarang

Bambang Sutomo; Supriyana; Irmanita Wiradona; Luci Fitriyanti; Sari Luthfiyah

doi:10.56741/IISTR.jphs.002222

Authors

Bambang Sutomo
bambangsutomo20@yahoo.co.id
Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8336-4640
Supriyana Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4500-7989
Irmanita Wiradona Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1256-3820
Luci Fitriyanti Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang
Sari Luthfiyah Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9677-7209

Keywords:

Method Comparison, O’leary, OHI-S, Oral Hygiene Index, Plaque Index

Abstract

Oral hygiene monitoring is essential in school-based prevention programmes, yet standard indices may be difficult to implement routinely outside dental settings. This study compared a modified O’Leary Plaque Index, restricted to labial and oral surfaces, with the standard Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) debris index among elementary school students at SDN Pudakpayung 02, Semarang. A comparative within-subject design was used involving 192 students who underwent both examinations. Content validity was evaluated by five experts using Aiken’s V, with all items scoring above 0.80. Inter-rater reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Descriptive findings were reported as proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), while paired scores were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The moderate oral hygiene category was most common for both methods: 45.3% (95% CI, 38.4–52.4) for OHI-S and 41.7% (95% CI, 34.9–48.7) for the modified index. No statistically significant difference was found between paired scores (p = 0.225), and the reported homogeneity test was also non-significant (p = 0.862). The ICC of 0.671 indicated moderate inter-rater reliability. Overall, both indices produced similar group-level oral hygiene distributions. However, these findings do not establish diagnostic equivalence or individual-level agreement. With adequate examiner training and calibration, the modified index warrants further evaluation as a practical screening approach for school-based oral health programmes, particularly where full dental examination resources are limited.

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Author Biographies

Bambang Sutomo, Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang

is a lecturer in the Applied Master's Program of Dental and Oral Therapy at the Postgraduate Program of the Ministry of Health Polytechnic of Semarang. He has served as a lecturer for the past 24 years, with expertise in dental health, community empowerment, and health promotion, in line with his doctoral education completed at Sebelas Maret University. In addition to being a lecturer, he is currently the chairman of the Indonesian Dental and Oral Therapist College. (email: bambangsutomo20@yahoo.co.id).

Supriyana, Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang

is a lecturer in the Applied Master's Program of Dental and Oral Therapy at the Postgraduate Program of the Ministry of Health Polytechnic of Semarang. His expertise lies not only in dentistry but also in educational management and educational technology. He has completed his doctorate in educational management at Semarang State University. In addition to his teaching duties, he is also an assessor for the Independent Health Accreditation Institute (Lam PT Kes) and has served as Director 1 for Academic Affairs. (email: hastama99@yahoo.com).

Irmanita Wiradona, Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang

is a lecturer in the Dental Health Diploma III program at the Department of Dental Health at the Ministry of Health Polytechnic of Semarang. Her expertise lies in oral health promotion, as evidenced by her master's degree in Health Promotion at Diponegoro University, Semarang. In addition to her teaching career, she is also active on the board of the dental and oral therapist professional organization. (email: irmanita.wiradona@gmail.com).

Luci Fitriyanti, Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang

is affiliated with the Department of Dental Health, Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. She is a young lecturer in the Department of Dental Health and is actively involved in teaching, research, and community service activities. (email: lucifitriyanti@gmail.com).

Sari Luthfiyah, Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya

is a lecturer at the Department of Nursing, Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, and a doctoral candidate at Universitas Airlangga. With over 26 years of academic experience and prior clinical practice in cardiovascular nursing, her research focuses on cardiovascular health, electromedical engineering, and digital health technologies. (email: sarilut@poltekkes-surabaya.ac.id).

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