Turkish validity and reliability of the revised general nutrition knowledge scale: A foundation university student sample

Aim of this study was to translate and validate the revised version of the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ-r) in Turkish. Research was conducted with 429 undergraduate students at Yeditepe University Kayışdağı Campus between January 2023 and April 2024, with 79 participating in the test-retest study. Reliability was assessed using the internal consistency KR-20 coefficient, item-total correlation tests, and the test-retest method. Validity was measured through construct validity and concurrent validity. Construct validity was assessed using expert opinions, known group comparisons, and discriminant validity. Women, those with a low BMI, and those with a high health status were expected to have higher GNKQ-r scores. Concurrent validity was assessed using the Turkish version of GNKQ and YETBID. The KR-20 reliability coefficients for the subsections ranged from 0.42 to 0.72, while the whole scale was 0.84. Item-total correlation values were between -0.14 and 0.49. The test-retest scores for subsections ranged from 0.76 to 0.88, and 0.92 for the overall scale. Construct validity indicated that women, those with a low BMI, and those with a high health status had higher GNKQ-r scores. Concurrent validity showed a moderate correlation with the YETBID and a strong correlation with the GNKQ Turkish version. Consequently, the study determined that the GNKQ-r was reliable and valid for use in the Turkish community after considering internal consistency, construct validity, and concurrent validity.