Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the New Cleveland Clinic Colorectal Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire.

PURPOSE: This study aims to adapt and validate the Cleveland Clinic Colorectal Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (CCF-CaQL) in Turkish, addressing the significant need for reliable, language-specific QoL measures for colorectal cancer (CRC) in Turkiye. This effort fills a critical gap in CRC patient care, enhancing both patient-provider communication and disease-specific QoL assessment. METHODS: The CCF-CaQL was translated into Turkish, verified for accuracy, and reviewed for clarity and relevance. Eligible patients who underwent colorectal surgery for cancer between July 2021 and July 2022 from six hospitals completed the CCF-CaQL and SF-36 questionnaires. For analysis, confirmatory factor analysis using Smart PLS 4 and descriptive statistics were employed. The questionnaire's reliability and validity were assessed using Cronbach alpha, composite reliability, and the heterotrait-monotrait (HTMT) ratio, along with multicollinearity checks and factor loadings. Nonparametric resampling was used for precise error and confidence interval calculations, and the Spearman coefficient and split-half method were applied for reliability testing. RESULTS: In the study involving 244 colorectal cancer patients, confirmatory factor analysis of the CCF-CaQL indicated effective item performance, with one item removed due to lower factor loading. The questionnaire exhibited high internal consistency, evidenced by a Cronbach alpha value of 0.909. Convergent validity was strong, with all average variance extracted (AVE) values exceeding 0.4. Discriminant validity was confirmed with HTMT coefficients below 0.9, and no significant multicollinearity issues were observed (VIF values < 10). Parallel testing with the SF-36 scale demonstrated moderate to very strong correlations, affirming the CCF-CaQL's comparability in measuring quality of life. CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the CCF-CaQL was validated for assessing quality of life in colorectal cancer patients. This validation confirms its reliability and cultural appropriateness for use in Turkiye. The disease-specific nature of the CCF-CaQL makes it a useful tool in clinical and research settings, enhancing patient care by accurately monitoring treatment effects and interventions in the Turkish colorectal cancer patient population.

Path Analysis of the Relationships between the Eruption Time of the First Primary Teeth and Various Factors in Twins.

The timing of primary tooth eruption is critical for children's health planning and the diagnosis of specific growth disorders. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between twin pairs' birth weight, gestational age, and gender, which are indicators of prenatal factors; breast-feeding duration, which is an indicator of postnatal factors; type of delivery, which is an indicator of maternal as well as genetic factors; and age of the primary tooth. Twin children aged from 3 to 15 years who applied to the clinic for the first dental examination constituted the sample group. In this twin study, 59 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs and 143 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs were included. Genetic (MZ vs. DZ), maternal (type of delivery, gestational age), perinatal (birth weight, gender), and postnatal (duration of breastfeeding) information was obtained, and effects on the children's Eruption Timing of the First Primary Tooth (ETFPT) were examined. Statistical analysis was performed using the consistent partial least squares structural equation model (robust PLSc) technique. As birth weight increased, the age at first eruption became younger, but this change was different between MZ and DZ twins (p < 0.05). While the age at first tooth eruption was older in identical twins who were breastfed for the first 6 months, this increase was not observed in DZ twins. The mean of ETFPT was calculated as 7.31 months in MZ twins and 6.75 months in DZ twins. The effect of breastfeeding and birth weight on ETFPT may differ according to zygosity in twins. MZ twins may tend to take longer to experience the eruption of their first primary teeth.

Assessment of Dental Arch Parameters in Turkish Twins.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to variations in dental dimensions in a sample of Turkish twins, and to estimate heritability using dental casts. STUDY DESIGN: The study samples were selected from the twin children between 3-15 years old who referred for their first dental examination. Fifty nine monozygotic and one hundred and forty three dizygotic twin pairs were examined in the study. The alginate impression material used to create the plaster model of maxilla and mandible. Anterior arch width, posterior arch width, arch length and arch circumference were measured on models prepared from measurements taken for both maxilla and mandible with digital caliper. The similarities and differences of the measurements were compared between pairs of twins and zygocytes. Morever, the effects of bad oral habits, bruxism, a result of psychosocial factors on measurements were examined. Statistical analysis was performed using Paired T Test, Wilcoxon Test and Mann Whitney U test. RESULTS: A total of 404 dental models of 118 (29.2%) monozygotic and 286 (70.8%) dizygotic twins were evaluated. There was no statistical difference between sibling pairs in both monozygotic and dizygotic twins. The measurement similarity between twin siblings differed according to zygosity in all measurements (p<0.05). It has been observed that the finger sucking and mouth breathing affect the dental arch measurements (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the differences in dental arch dimensions between monozygotic twin pairs are less than the difference between dizygotic twin pairs.

Assessment of Dental Arch Parameters in Turkish Twins.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to variations in dental dimensions in a sample of Turkish twins, and to estimate heritability using dental casts. STUDY DESIGN: The study samples were selected from the twin children between 3-15 years old who referred for their first dental examination. Fifty nine monozygotic and one hundred and forty three dizygotic twin pairs were examined in the study. The alginate impression material used to create the plaster model of maxilla and mandible. Anterior arch width, posterior arch width, arch length and arch circumference were measured on models prepared from measurements taken for both maxilla and mandible with digital caliper. The similarities and differences of the measurements were compared between pairs of twins and zygocytes. Morever, the effects of bad oral habits, bruxism, a result of psychosocial factors on measurements were examined. Statistical analysis was performed using Paired T Test, Wilcoxon Test and Mann Whitney U test. RESULTS: A total of 404 dental models of 118 (29.2%) monozygotic and 286 (70.8%) dizygotic twins were evaluated. There was no statistical difference between sibling pairs in both monozygotic and dizygotic twins. The measurement similarity between twin siblings differed according to zygosity in all measurements (p<0.05). It has been observed that the finger sucking and mouth breathing affect the dental arch measurements (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the differences in dental arch dimensions between monozygotic twin pairs are less than the difference between dizygotic twin pairs.