Psychometric Properties of Persian Version of Nutrition Literacy Inventory (NLI-28, 2017) among University Students

Abstract

Background: Nutrition literacy is a key determinant of nutrition decision and behavior. This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Persian version of Nutrition Literacy Inventory (NLI-28) among university students. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 203 students (101 women and 102 men) were enrolled through a randomized cluster sampling method from the four dormitories of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The instrument was prepared through a translation and back-translation process and it was used as a self-administered inventory. The NLI-28 included three subscales i.e. functional nutrition literacy, interactive nutrition literacy, and critical nutrition literacy. The reliability and validity of the instrument were assessed by using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Results: Mean of content validity ratio (CVR) for essential criterion, means of content validity index (CVI) for simply criterion, clarity criterion, and relevance criterion were obtained as 0.89, 0.9, 0.96, and 0.98, respectively. The coefficients of Cronbach’s alpha (α=0.87), convergent validity (0.74), divergent validity (-0.11), and criterion validity (0.73) were estimated (p <0.01). The exploratory factor analysis demonstrated that the NLI-28 was organized into four factors, clarifying 78% of the scale’s variance. Second-order confirmatory factor analysis pointed out that the factor was well matched up onto a principal factor. The four factors model was well appropriate for the data by the fit index technique to adjust the scale. Conclusion: Well-adjusted reliability and psychometric properties of the NLI-28 were shown and also its usefulness for the relevant studies was demonstrated.