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Validation of an Arabic Questionnaire to Assess Pediatric Behavioral Feeding Disorders
Yasmein Helal, Elham Kadri1, Omayma Afsah1
1Phoniatrics Unit, ORL Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
Insights
A new Arabic questionnaire, the Mansoura Pediatric Eating Assessment Scale (MPEAS), effectively identifies abnormal feeding behaviors in children. This validated tool aids in early detection and treatment planning for pediatric feeding issues.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Child Psychology
- Clinical Assessment Tools
Background:
- Behavioral feeding assessments are crucial for diagnosing feeding disorders and informing treatment strategies.
- Abnormal feeding behaviors in children require accurate identification and understanding for effective intervention.
- Developing culturally relevant assessment tools is essential for diverse populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an Arabic questionnaire for assessing abnormal feeding behaviors in Arabic-speaking children.
- To create a reliable and sensitive tool for identifying pediatric feeding problems in the Arab world.
Main Methods:
- The Mansoura Pediatric Eating Assessment Scale (MPEAS) was developed with 40 items across four subdomains.
- The scale was administered to 100 Arabic-speaking children (aged 1-5), including those with and without feeding problems.
- Standardized procedures for item generation, pilot testing, validation, and reliability testing were employed.
Main Results:
- The MPEAS demonstrated excellent validity, encompassing face, content, discriminant, predictive, and convergent validity.
- The scale exhibited high reliability, confirming its consistency in measuring feeding behaviors.
- The MPEAS successfully differentiated between typically developing children and those with abnormal feeding behaviors.
Conclusions:
- The MPEAS is a valid, reliable, and user-friendly instrument for assessing behavioral feeding problems in Arabic-speaking children.
- This tool can significantly enhance the screening and management of feeding disorders, leading to improved outcomes.
- The MPEAS offers a culturally appropriate method for evaluating pediatric feeding issues in Arabic-speaking communities.
Introduction:
Behavioral feeding assessment allows for identifying the nature and the cause of abnormal feeding behaviors during mealtime, making prognostic predictions, and creating effective treatment plans. This study aimed to develop and validate an Arabic questionnaire to assess abnormal feeding behaviors among Arabic-speaking children.
Methods:
Mansoura Pediatric Eating Assessment Scale (MPEAS) was developed and administered to the parents of 100 Arabic-speaking children aged 1-5, including 50 typically developing children without feeding problems and 50 children with abnormal feeding behaviors. The scale includes 40 items in four subdomains (feeding skills, mealtime circumstances, child behavior, and parent behavior). Scoring was based on a 4-point Likert scale, with lower scores indicating greater impairment. Standardized procedures were used to develop and validate the MPEAS, including the items generation phase, pilot study, validation, and reliability testing.
Results:
MPEAS demonstrated excellent validity (face, content, discriminant, predictive, and convergent) and reliability.
Conclusion:
MPEAS is a valid, reliable, and easily applicable tool for assessing behavioral feeding problems in Arabic-speaking children. This sensitive and specific tool has the potential to significantly improve the screening and treatment of behavioral feeding problems among Arabic-speaking children, offering hope for better outcomes.
