Development of a sports nutrition knowledge questionnaire for Sri Lankan athletes

Abstract

AbstractBackground:Satisfactory nutrition knowledge among athletes is important to encourage proper dietary habits to overcome deficiencies and enhance sports performance. Identifying knowledge gaps in sports nutrition is essential for improving athletes' understanding, ideally through a contemporary tool that evaluates both general nutrition knowledge (GNK) and sports nutrition knowledge (SNK). This study aims to develop the Athletic Sports Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (A-SNKQ) specifically for Sri Lankan track and field athletes.Methods:The development of the A-SNKQ followed an extensive step-wise approach. Firstly, a systematic literature review was conducted on existing SNK questionnaires for athletes. Secondly, sports nutrition guidelines were incorporated into the questionnaire. Thirdly, information from local literature was gathered to ensure contextual relevance. Lastly, a qualitative study involving key athletic stakeholders was conducted to gain cultural insights. Additional processes were implemented to format and translate the tool.Results:The final version of the questionnaire consists of 33 questions, categorized into 12 sub-sections under two main sections: GNK (n = 16) and SNK (n = 17). The GNK section covers topics such as macronutrients, micronutrients, energy balance, hydration, and weight management. The SNK section addresses specific areas related to sporting performance, including carbohydrate loading, pre-training meals, meals during training, post-training meals, sports supplements, supplement label reading, alcohol consumption, isotonic drinks, doping, and relative energy deficiency syndrome in sports (RED-S). The questionnaire utilizes two question formats, namely single-best response questions and multiple-choice questions. In addition, three sports supplement labels were included.Conclusions:The GNK section of the A-SNKQ addresses the fundamental nutritional concepts. Conversely, the SNK focuses on the knowledge associated with sporting performance among track and field athletes.