NEFPAT Plus: A Valid and Reliable Tool for Assessing the Nutrition Environment in Food Pantries

Objective To develop a consumer nutrition environment assessment tool to assess policy, systems, and environmental initiatives that are implemented in food pantries, which incorporates recent national guidance, and evaluate its validity and reliability. Setting Illinois, US. Design This study had 4 phases: (1) tool revision, (2) pilot testing, (3) content validity assessment, and (4) interrater and test-retest reliability assessment. The original Nutrition Environment Food Pantry Assessment Tool (NEFPAT) was revised to incorporate evidence from updated guidelines and evidence. The NEFPAT+ was pilot-tested by 9 professionals at 5 food pantries. After revisions, 18 experts rated the content validity. Interrater and test-retest reliability was based on 2–4 professionals completing independent evaluations at 21 food pantries twice, 1 month apart. Analysis Content validity indices and intraclass correlation (ICC) coefficients for reliability estimates were compared with established thresholds. Results The NEFPAT+ was rated content valid by 94% of experts. The ICC for NEFPAT+ scores indicated excellent interrater reliability (ICC, 0.96; 99% confidence interval, 0.75–0.97) and good test-retest reliability (ICC: 0.80; 99% confidence interval, 0.60–0.92). Conclusions Evidence supports the content validity, interrater reliability, and test-retest reliability of the NEFPAT+. Future studies can assess how NEFPAT+ scores relate to intervention outcomes and dietary behaviors.