The Filipino dietary habits and nutrition knowledge questionnaire (DHNKQ-FIL): a psychometric study

Abstract

Background: The Dietary Habits and Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (DHNKQ) is a validated assessment tool that provides information about the nutritional practices of collegiate athletes as an integral support to sports performance. This psychometric study aims to translate and validate the DHNKQ for the Filipino collegiate population to come up with the DHNKQ-FIL using various psychometric protocols consolidated into two phases. Methods: The first phase involved the translation of the tool into Filipino and testing for face and content validity through a focus group discussion by an expert committee and was finalized with the administration of a pre-test to 30 collegiate athletes for final modification purposes. The second phase tested the validated DHNKQ-FIL on a new set of 30 collegiate athletes for internal consistency and reliability testing, statistically analyzed using Cronbach’s α and intraclass correlation coefficient, respectively. Results: The DHNKQ-FIL used modern Filipino terminologies, more appropriate for the modern Filipino collegiate athlete. Item Content Validity Index (I-CVI) had scores of 90% and above in semantic, idiomatic, experiential, and conceptual equivalence for both sections. Food guides and choices, along with the usage of medical jargon, were identified areas for modification in the validity testing. Pre-test subjects considered the questionnaire appropriate and applicable for Filipino athletes after cognitive interview. The pilot test showed scale reliability scores of 0.68 or “Questionable” for dietary habits section and 0.81 or “Good” for nutritional knowledge. Test-retest reliability had a score of 0.79 or “Acceptable” for dietary habits and 0.60 or “Questionable” for nutrition knowledge. Conclusion: The acceptable scores for the translation, validation, and reliability of the DHNKQ-FIL makes it a valid tool for assessing dietary habit and nutritional knowledge among Filipino collegiate athletes.