Validation of a questionnaire concerning knowledge and stance relevant to the nutritional value of alternative protein consumption

Introduction: Alternative proteins have been shown to have great nutritional value as they consist a great amount of essential macronutrients which benefit the human diet and contribute to building muscle groups, strengthening the immune system as well as many essential functions for life. Health professionals play an important role in achieving patient adherence to dietary recommendations and in providing a consultative approach to health issues. Aim: The purpose of the present study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of health professionals regarding the nutritional value of alternative protein consumption and to weight this questionnaire. Material and Method: The study was conducted at the University General Hospital "Attikon" from March 2022 to March 2023. 100 questionnaires were completed by health professionals working in Attikon hospital. The population of the study concerns health professionals working in "Attikon" as nursing, medical and paramedical staff. The statistical program SPSS 26.0 was used for the analysis. Exploratory factor analysis (Rotation Method: Varimax) was used to investigate the structure of the knowledge and attitude questionnaires. Results: The factor "Knowledge about the consumption of alternative proteins" contained 15 questions, with loadings ranging from 0.75 to 0.95, explained 69.2% of the variability and had acceptable reliability (Cronbach's a=0.98). The factor "Knowledge of the environmental footprint of alternative proteins" contained 3 questions, with loadings ranging from 0.45 to 0.95, explained 12.1% of the variability and had acceptable reliability (Cronbach's a=0.67). Discussion Greeks are people that would hardly change their eating habits. Global economic use, intense immigration, global demographic and cultural developments have left their mark on people's eating behavior. Conclusions: The questionnaire under consideration does not require much time to complete and can be applied reliably and validly in Greece. It is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the knowledge of health professionals regarding the consumption of alternative proteins.

Keywords: health professionals, Alternative proteins, knowledge, attitudes