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.