1.Validation of questionnaire for assessing perceived benefits and barriers of vegetable consumption in Japanese adults
Yaeko Kawaguchi ; Junichiro Somei ; Chikana Kawaguchi ; Akiko Suganuma ; Naoki Sakane
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2022;28(No.1):107-117
Introduction: This study aimed to develop and validate a diet consultation tool
that assesses the perceived benefits and barriers of vegetable consumption
attached to the stage of change in Japanese adults. Methods: A web-based survey
was conducted among university and vocational school students, medical staffs,
and local residents in the Aichi, Osaka, and Kyoto prefectures of Japan between
September 2017 and January 2018. Participants comprised of 379 adults aged
20–70 years (mean age: 30.5±12.6 years; men: 21.4%). The scale for decisional
balance of vegetable consumption contained 15 benefit items and 15 barrier items.
The internal consistency of the scale was examined using Cronbach’s alpha and
construct validity was examined using an exploratory factor analysis with Promax
rotation. Results: The developed questionnaire had 12 items across two domains
for benefits and 12 items across three domains for barriers that were structured
with high internal consistencies (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.82, 0.79, 0.82, 0.76 and
0.76, respectively). The intraclass correlation coefficient in the test-retest reliability
study was substantial (0.77). We found a very clear association between decreasing
barrier score with increasing vegetable consumption and progress in the stage of
change. The decisional balance score (benefits score minus barriers score) was
positively correlated with the number of vegetable servings as an external parameter
(Spearman’s correlation: 0.461; p<0.001). Conclusion: The developed questionnaire
was a valid, reliable, and useful tool for diet consultants to assess the perceived
benefits and barriers of vegetable consumption in Japanese adults.