Developing a measure of eating attitudes and behaviours in cystic fibrosis

BackgroundEating disorders or disturbed eating attitudes and behaviours (EABs) may contribute to poor nutritional status in Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Existing measures of disturbed EABs can have different meanings in this population and do not assess CF-related EABs. A self-report measure of EABs in CF was developed to highlight areas of eating disturbance.MethodsThe content validity of a draft measure was evaluated via expert evaluation and literature review and an amended measure piloted with 8 CF patients using cognitive interviewing. A further amended measure was administered to 155 CF patients (11–62 years) attending CF clinics.ResultsPrincipal components analyses revealed a three-factor structure (‘Desire for thinness and weight loss’, ‘Disturbed EABs’, and ‘Appetite’) with good internal consistencies for subscales and the 21-item whole measure.ConclusionsThe measure looks promising as a tool to highlight EAB disturbance in CF. Further work will establish its construct validity and clarify interpretation of subscales.