Validation of an Arabic questionnaire to assess pediatric behavioral feeding disorders.

Abstract

Introduction: Behavioral feeding assessment allows for identifying the nature and the cause of abnormal feeding behaviors during mealtime, making prognostic predictions, and creating effective treatment plans. This study aimed to develop and validate an Arabic questionnaire to assess abnormal feeding behaviors among Arabic-speaking children.

Methods: Mansoura Pediatric Eating Assessment Scale (MPEAS) was developed and administered to the parents of 100 Arabic-speaking children aged 1-5, including 50 typically developing children without feeding problems and 50 children with abnormal feeding behaviors. The scale includes 40 items in four subdomains (feeding skills, mealtime circumstances, child behavior, and parent behavior). Scoring was based on a 4-point Likert scale, with lower scores indicating greater impairment. Standardized procedures were used to develop and validate the MPEAS, including the items generation phase, pilot study, validation, and reliability testing.

Results: MPEAS demonstrated excellent validity (face, content, discriminant, predictive, and convergent) and reliability.

Conclusion: MPEAS is a valid, reliable, and easily applicable tool for assessing behavioral feeding problems in Arabic-speaking children. This sensitive and specific tool has the potential to significantly improve the screening and treatment of behavioral feeding problems among Arabic-speaking children, offering hope for better outcomes.