Validation of the e-NutLit, an Electronic Tool to Assess Nutrition Literacy

To validate an electronic nutrition literacy assessment tool (e-NutLit).

Cross-sectional.

An Australian teaching hospital obesity clinic (clinical cohort) and university (dietetic cohort).

A convenience sample of patients with obesity (body mass index > 35 kg m^-2) (obese participants [OP]) and dietetic interns (DI).

The e-NutLit was administered to OP and scores were compared with performance on the Newest Vital Sign and e-NutLit scores of the DI to establish construct validity. A subset of OP completed the e-NutLit again to examine instrument temporal stability. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach α.

Construct validity, temporal stability, and internal consistency.

Parametric and nonparametric tests and general linear modeling were used as appropriate.

A total of 103 participants completed the study (OP: n = 59; 64.4% female; DI: n = 44; 86.4% female). Newest Vital Sign and e-NutLit scores were significantly and positively associated (r_s = 0.66; P <.001). The DI performed significantly better than the OP (OP: 59.7 ± 13.1 percentage points; DI: 83.9 ± 5.5 percentage points; P <.001), further supporting construct validity. The e-NutLit Cronbach α was >0.9 indicating a good level of internal consistency. The OP test and retest scores were not significantly different, supporting instrument temporal stability.

The results support the validity of the e-NutLit, for both clinicians and researchers.