Utilizing Health Literacy Measures to Assess the Content of a Food Quality Screener for Understandability and Actionability

ABSTRACT

Background

Nutrition education materials are frequently used by health educators to inform consumers about quality food choices. However, evaluation of content-based factors that impact the consumer’s ability to understand and act on nutrition information is lacking.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess the content of a newly developed Food Quality Screener (FQS) as an understandable and actionable tool.

Methods

Two evidence-based assessments were utilized in this study. The first assessment involved ten experts evaluating the understandability of the FQS content based on the Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM). The second assessment involved health consumers evaluating the actionability of FQS content based on a modified version of the Usefulness Scale for Patient Information Material (USE).

Results

The average SAM score percentage before and after targeting the FQS content increased from 79% to 91%, which was significant (p < .05). The USE mean score was 38.55, from a maximum possible 45 points.

Discussion

Based on expert and consumer ratings, the newly revised FQS received high marks for understandability and actionability.

Translation to Health Education Practice

This study’s findings serve as a foundational step forward to providing an easy-to-understand food quality screener that assesses total diet quality and engages clients in the behavioral change process.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the following persons for their multiple reviews of the Food Quality Screener: Walter Willett, M.D., Dr. P.H., Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Christopher Gardner, Ph.D., Rehnborg Farquhar Professor of Medicine, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).