title: [Introduction to Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) has become one of the most frequently used statistical techniques, especially in the medical and social sciences. Given its popularity, it is essential to understand the basic concepts necessary for its proper application and to take into consideration the main strengths and weaknesses of this technique.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present in a clear and concise manner the main applications of this technique, to determine the basic requirements for its use providing a description step by step of its methodology, and to establish the elements that must be taken into account during its preparation in order to not incur in erroneous results and interpretations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Narrative review.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review identifies the basic concepts and briefly describes the objectives, design, assumptions, and methodology to achieve factor derivation, global adjustment evaluation, and adequate interpretation of results.
authors.affiliation: Nutricionista dietista, candidata a Maestría en Epidemiología Clínica, docente de cátedra del Departamento de Nutrición y Dietética, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Clínica de Obesidad, Hospital Universitario de San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia. Electronic address: lilia.mendez@javeriana.edu.co.
authors.forename: Carolina Méndez
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Estadístico, Maestría en Bioestadística, profesor asociado, Departamento de Epidemiología Clínica y Bioestadística, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Martín Alonso Rondón
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sepúlveda
keywords: Análisis factorial; Statistical factor analysis; evaluación; evaluation; methodology; metodología; validez de pruebas; validity of tests