The translation and psychometric assessment of the SCOFF eating disorder screening questionnaire: the Persian version

BACKGROUND: Eating Disorders (EDs) are defined by abnormal eating habits. The SCOFF (Sick-Control-One stone-Fat-Food) is a simple screening questionnaire for EDs. This study was conducted to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the SCOFF questionnaire in Iranian university students. METHODS: A total of 310 Iranian students of the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences completed a test battery of questionnaires including the well-known screener of eating disorder symptoms, the SCOFF. All measures were presented to the participants in Persian. The 5-item SCOFF questionnaire was translated to Persian using the forward–backward method. The face, content, criterion, and construct validity of the Persian version of the SCOFF were assessed. The validity and reliability of the Persian version of the SCOFF was assessed and factor analysis was conducted. RESULTS: All five items of the translated questionnaire were approved after face validity. Content validity ratio was 0.73 (range 0.66–0.83) and content validity index was 0.96 (range 0.91–1), so all items were approved. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 2-factor structure, which explained 52.47% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a very good goodness-of-fit for the 2-factor model. 2-factor and 1-factor models indicate a very good goodness-of-fit in females and adequate goodness-of-fit in males. Criterion validity showed an acceptable correlation between the SCOFF and the EDE-Q. Reliability was acceptable based on the stability [ICC = 0.905(95% CI .760–.962 p < 0.001)] and the internal consistency (KR20 = 0.4). CONCLUSION: Appropriate psychometric properties of the 5-item Persian version of the SCOFF (both models) were confirmed, suggesting its use as a valid questionnaire in EDs screening. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40337-022-00564-3.