Cognitive testing with female nutrition and education assistance program participants informs validity of the Satter eating competence inventory.
OBJECTIVE
Examine the validity of a self-report measure of eating competence with low-income women.


METHODS
Twenty-five females (18-49 years old) recruited from low-income venues in Pennsylvania completed cognitive testing through an iterative interview process. Respondents' oral responses were compared to researchers' intended meaning of ecSatter Inventory (ecSI) items; responses were mapped to evaluate the similarity between respondents' internally generated answers and their ecSI choices for survey items; and scored responses were compared among participants.


RESULTS
Interview findings provided a rationale for modifying the ecSI prior to use with low-income women. Four items were misinterpreted for various reasons, including problems with clarity and wording. The modified ecSI, termed the ecSatter Inventory for Low-Income (ecSI/LI), was comprehended as intended by researchers. Congruence of cognitive responses and ecS/LI scores further supported the instrument's validity.


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive testing resulted in the development of an instrument to measure eating competence in low-income adults. The ecSI/LI requires validation with a large, heterogeneous low-income sample.
Krall
Jodi Stotts
JS
Weight Management and Wellness, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. jodi.krall@chp.edu
Lohse
Barbara
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D032882:Comprehension; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011203:Poverty; D011632:Public Assistance; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult