Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool—Bottle-Feeding (NeoEAT—Bottle-Feeding)

• Published in: Advances in neonatal care Vol. 18; no. 3; pp. 232 - 242
• Main Authors: Pados, Britt Frisk, Thoyre, Suzanne M., Estrem, Hayley H., Park, Jinhee, McComish, Cara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States by the National Association of Neonatal Nurses 01-06-2018; by The National Association of Neonatal Nurses
• Subjects: Bottle Feeding - statistics & numerical data; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Feeding Behavior; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care, Neonatal - methods; Intensive Care, Neonatal - statistics & numerical data; Male; Neonatal Screening - methods; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1536-0903; 1536-0911
• DOI: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000494

BACKGROUND:Feeding difficulties are common in infancy. There are currently no valid and reliable parent-report measures to assess bottle-feeding in infants younger than 7 months. The Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool (NeoEAT)—Bottle-feeding has been developed and content validated.
PURPOSE:To determine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the NeoEAT—Bottle-feeding.
METHODS:Parents of bottle-feeding infants younger than 7 months were invited to participate. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine factor structure. Internal consistency reliability was tested using Cronbach α. Test-retest reliability was tested between scores on the NeoEAT—Bottle-feeding completed 2 weeks apart. Construct validity was tested using correlations between the NeoEAT—Bottle-feeding, the Infant Gastroesophageal Reflux Questionnaire—Revised (I-GERQ-R), and the Infant Gastrointestinal Symptoms Questionnaire (IGSQ). Known-groups validation was tested by comparing scores between healthy infants and infants with feeding problems.
RESULTS:A total of 441 parents participated. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 64-item scale with 5 factors. Internal consistency reliability (α= .92) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.90; P < .001) were both excellent. The NeoEAT—Bottle-feeding had construct validity with the I-GERQ-R (r = 0.74; P < .001) and IGSQ (r = 0.64; P < .001). Healthy infants scored lower on the NeoEAT—Bottle-feeding than infants with feeding problems (P < .001), supporting known-groups validity.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:The NeoEAT—Bottle-feeding is an available assessment tool for clinical practice.
IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH:The NeoEAT—Bottle-feeding is a valid and reliable measure that can now be used in feeding research.Video Abstract Available at https://journals.lww.com/advancesinneonatalcare/Pages/videogallery.aspx.