The translation and psychometric assessment of the SCOFF eating disorder screening questionnaire: the Persian version

Abstract

Background Eating Disorders (EDs) are defined by abnormal eating habits. The SCOFF (Sick-Control-One stone-Fat-Food) is a simple screening questionnaire for EDs. This study was conducted to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the SCOFF questionnaire in Iranian university students. Methods A total of 310 Iranian students of the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences completed a test battery of questionnaires including the well-known screener of eating disorder symptoms, the SCOFF. All measures were presented to the participants in Persian. The 5-item SCOFF questionnaire was translated to Persian using the forward–backward method. The face, content, criterion, and construct validity of the Persian version of the SCOFF were assessed. The validity and reliability of the Persian version of the SCOFF was assessed and factor analysis was conducted. Results All five items of the translated questionnaire were approved after face validity. Content validity ratio was 0.73 (range 0.66–0.83) and content validity index was 0.96 (range 0.91–1), so all items were approved. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 2-factor structure, which explained 52.47% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a very good goodness-of-fit for the 2-factor model. 2-factor and 1-factor models indicate a very good goodness-of-fit in females and adequate goodness-of-fit in males. Criterion validity showed an acceptable correlation between the SCOFF and the EDE-Q. Reliability was acceptable based on the stability [ICC = 0.905(95% CI .760–.962 p < 0.001)] and the internal consistency (KR20 = 0.4). Conclusion Appropriate psychometric properties of the 5-item Persian version of the SCOFF (both models) were confirmed, suggesting its use as a valid questionnaire in EDs screening.

The Sick, Control, One Stone, Fat, Food (SCOFF) is a Valid Eating Disorder Questionnaire to Use With Transgender Youth

“…This is low but not surprising due to the low number of items in the SCOFF and is consistent with previous SCOFF validation studies. [28][29][30]40…”

“…Principal components extraction and oblique rotation were used to interpret the factor loadings, as the items were assumed to be related 27 and to follow previous SCOFF validation studies. [28][29][30][31] Decisions regarding the number of factors to extract were based on eigenvalues < 1, 32 and a visual examination of the scree plot. Significant Bartlett's test of Sphericity and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) statistics > 0.5 were used to evaluate the data, and factor loadings > 0.4 were considered acceptable for the inclusion of each item in a factor.…”

Validity and Consistency of the Arabic Version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) among Saudi Adults

“…Seven questions that had correlations less than 0.4 were removed from the three-factor model to reach a good fit for the Saudi adults. Factor loading > 0.4 was determined as stable and acceptable for the model in eating disorders [ 48 , 49 , 50 ]. These seven questions were as follows: Q6 flat stomach, Q8 preoccupation with shape or weight, Q10 fear of weight gain, Q12 desire to lose weight, Q22 importance of weight, and Q23 importance of shape.…”

A 4pL item response theory examination of perceived stigma in the screening of eating disorders with the SCOFF among college students

“…The SCOFF has been translated into several languages and has been examined internationally for its psychometric properties for over the past twenty years overall positively [ 3 , 8 , 32 , 42 ] with some mixed evidence [ 48 ]. While many screening instruments for eating disorders exist, the overall body of literature provides evidence that supports the reliability and validity of the SCOFF given its status as a brief screener with ‘yes’ versus ‘no’ responses [ 12 , 43 ].…”