A world-first food service satisfaction questionnaire for use with family members of nursing home residents: expanding the toolkit of valid and reliable aged care food service satisfaction questionnaires

Objectives
This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable food service satisfaction questionnaire for use by family members of residents in nursing homes.

Design
Questionnaire development and validation study conducted using COSMIN® benchmarks for excellence.

Setting
Nursing homes.

Participants
Family members of residents in nursing homes.

Measurements
Content validity was established based on a review of the literature, qualitative interviews with family members (n = 9) and expert review (n = 10). Face validity was established in pilot testing with family members (n = 5). A 40-item questionnaire was developed for psychometric testing. Data from 414 family members was used to establish construct validity (Principal Components Analysis), with data from 101 of those family members used to evaluate reliability (internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha [α]) and temporal stability [weighted Kappa]).

Results
A two factor 24-item scale resulted, with excellent internal consistency (factor one: 11 items related to food and meals (α = 0.960); factor two: 13 items related to the mealtime experience (α = 0.907)). Temporal stability was moderate to near perfect (weighted Kappa: 0.461−0.875; p < 0.001).

Conclusion
This world-first, valid and reliable, food service satisfaction questionnaire for use with family members of nursing home residents meets COSMIN® standards for excellence and complements the Flinders University resident and workforce food service satisfaction questionnaires also available for use in nursing homes.