Abstract
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is on the rise among Arabic adolescents, with a notable increase observed in Iraq. However, no validated tool currently exists to assess SSB consumption apart from the frequency of SSB intake within this population. The objective of this study is to evaluate the beverage consumption patterns of Arabic-speaking adolescents using a validated Beverage Intake Questionnaire (BEVQ) specifically designed for this population. METHODOLOGY: The BEVQ has been authorized by the original author and was meticulously translated through a 10-step protocol. The content validity of the BEVQ was rigorously evaluated by four independent experts using the item-level content validity index (I-CVI), scale-level content validity index average (S-CVI/Ave), sum of the content validity index/universal agreement (S-CVI/UA), and the modified kappa statistic (κ (m)). The face validity was also conducted on 30 adolescents, ensuring clarity and comprehensive validation. RESULTS: The translation process required minor modifications to ensure linguistic and cultural equivalence to the original questionnaire. The Arabic version of the BEVQ (BEVQ-A) achieved S-CVI/Ave scores ranging from 0.90 to 0.98 and S-CVI/UA scores ranging from 0.75 to 1.00. The modified kappa statistic (κ (m)) indicated that the majority of items were categorized as good to excellent. These scores confirmed that the BEVQ-A possessed robust content validity. Additionally, the BEVQ-A demonstratedcomprehensive and clear face validity, with a sum of face validity index (S-FVI) score of 0.97. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the Arabic-translated version of the BEVQ is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing total beverage consumption among Arabic-speaking adolescents.