Validation of the Korean Version of the Nutrition Screening Tool for Every Preschooler (NutriSTEP^®): Using the Rasch...

Assessing the nutrition risk of preschoolers is crucial for promoting their healthy growth and development. This study aimed to develop a Korean version of NutriSTEP^® by assessing its feasibility, validity, and reliability.

A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with parents of preschoolers aged 3-6 years. Five scholars independently translated the English version of NutriSTEP^® into Korean. One-on-one online cognitive interviews were conducted with 10 parents, and an expert panel review with the five scholars was conducted using an item content validity index. A total of 201 parents participated in an online survey, and the criterion validity of NutriSTEP^® was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Construct validity was examined through item analysis using the Rasch model and known-groups validity, while internal consistency was assessed using the test-retest reliability.

Eight items were revised to improve cultural acceptability and comprehensibility. Each item of NutriSTEP^® had an Item-content validity index (I-CVI) of 1.0, and the area under the curve for the ROC curve was 90.5%. A cut-point of NutriSTEP^® score to determine moderate risk (> 25) had a sensitivity of 90.5% and specificity of 71.7%, compared to the moderate nutrition risk (≥ 5). The Korean version of NutriSTEP^® was unidimensional, and scores varied significantly based on parents' income levels (F = 11.154, p < .001) and children's physical activity levels (t = -4.107, p < .001). The test-retest reliability was .661.

This study confirms that NutriSTEP^® is a valid and reliable tool for assessing Korean preschooler's nutrition risk. Using NutriSTEP^® could offer valuable insights for promoting healthy dietary behaviors in preschoolers.