Validation And Adaptation Of The Tepica Instrument To Assess Knowledge And Eating Habits In The Chilean Adolescent Population

Abstract

Validated measurement instruments are necessary for a permanent knowledge of eating habits and knowledge. The objective of this article is to Whereby the objective of this article is to adapt and validate the TEPICA instrument to assess knowledge and eating habits of the Chilean adolescent population. Based on the questionnaire validated by Cuervo in 2016. The instrument was applied to a sample in two phases, in the first one 306 schoolchildren have participated, of a second phase replicating the study with a sample of 3172 students. Once the surveys were completed, we proceeded to their analysis, constructing the data matrix with distribution and dispersion tests, the mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis and range, using the IBM SPSS.27 statistical program. Subsequently, the dimensionality of the scale was studied by applying an exploratory or semi-confirmatory factor analysis (AFE or AFSC) using the FACTOR program in its version 11 updated in 2021. It can be concluded that the TEPICA.Ch instrument provides a type of measurement that is valid, reliable, simple to apply and adapted to adolescents in the Chilean context, making it possible to evaluate knowledge about food and eating habits in school adolescents, the data indicate that it complies with the validation and reliability processes to be used.