The Nutrition Literacy Assessment Instrument for Italian Subjects, NLit-IT: Exploring Validity and Reliability

Virginia Vettori, Chiara Lorini, Heather D. Gibbs, Francesco Sofi, Vieri Lastrucci, Gino Sartor, Ilaria Fulvi, Duccio Giorgetti, Giuseppe Cavallo and Guglielmo Bonaccorsi
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Virginia Vettori: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 48 Morgagni Blvd, 50134 Florence, Italy
Chiara Lorini: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 48 Morgagni Blvd, 50134 Florence, Italy
Heather D. Gibbs: Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd/MS4013, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
Francesco Sofi: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Vieri Lastrucci: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 48 Morgagni Blvd, 50134 Florence, Italy
Gino Sartor: School of Specialization in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 48 Morgagni Blvd, 50134 Florence, Italy
Ilaria Fulvi: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 48 Morgagni Blvd, 50134 Florence, Italy
Duccio Giorgetti: School of Specialization in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 48 Morgagni Blvd, 50134 Florence, Italy
Giuseppe Cavallo: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 48 Morgagni Blvd, 50134 Florence, Italy
Guglielmo Bonaccorsi: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 48 Morgagni Blvd, 50134 Florence, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: The aim of this study was to test validity and reliability of the adapted version of the Nutrition Literacy Assessment Instrument (NLit) for Italian people (NLit-IT). An observational cross-sectional study was conducted, involving a convenience sample of adults ( n = 74). To explore the validity of the tool, we considered both diet quality as an outcome of NL, and health literacy (HL) as a construct that presents similarities and differences with NL. Diet quality was measured by adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (Med diet) through the validated Mediterranean Diet Literature-based adherence score (MEDI-Lite). The relationship between NL level and adherence to Med diet was assessed by linear regression analysis and computing correlations between NLit-IT and MEDI-Lite scores (Spearman’s Rho). Additionally, we evaluated the correlation between NLit-IT score and the level of HL (Spearman’s Rho). Internal consistency and reliability were measured by Cronbach’s alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) respectively. Internal consistency (?T = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.69–0.84) and reliability (ICC = 0.68, 95% CI, 0.46–0.85) were confirmed. In addition, NLit-IT total score was correlated with MEDI-Lite score (Rho = 0.25; p -value = 0.031) and multivariate regression analysis confirmed that NL significantly contributed to MEDI-Lite score (R 2 = 0.13; ? = 0.13; p -value = 0.008). There was no significant association between the level of HL and NL. In conclusion, NLit-IT showed validity and reliability as a measure of NL for Italian people.

Keywords: cross cultural adaptation; food appearance; dietetics; obesity; malnutrition; food security; misinformation; food literacy; nutritional literacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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