Development and content validation of the Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool (Pedi-EAT)

In this article, the authors describe the development and content validation of a parent-report measure of problematic eating behaviors: the Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool (Pedi-EAT).

In Phase I, items were generated from parents' descriptions of problematic feeding behaviors of children, review of literature, and review of existing eating-related instruments. In Phase II, interdisciplinary experts on pediatric eating behaviors rated the items for clarity and relevance using content validity indices (CVI) and provided feedback on the comprehensiveness of the instrument. In Phases III and IV, 2 groups of parents of children with and without feeding difficulties participated in cognitive interviews to gain respondent feedback on content, format, and item interpretation. The authors analyzed interviews using matrix display strategies.

Experts rated the total scale CVI > .90 for both relevance and clarity; item CVI ranged from .67 to 1.0 for relevance and .5 to 1.0 for clarity. Analysis of each item with low scores, along with experts' and parents' feedback, resulted in refinement of the items, scoring options, and directions. Experts and parents added additional items. Readability after refinements was acceptable at less than a 5th-grade level.

The Pedi-EAT was systematically developed and content validated with input from researchers, clinicians, and parents.