Background: Universally people relish and appreciate attractive foods from the restaurants. Chinese restaurant syndrome (CRS) includes nexus web of symptoms such as numbness at the back of neck which is gradually radiating to upper limbs, general weakness, and palpitation. Hence, developing a cost-effective tool to assess the CRS among general population was our key research priority.
Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a self-administered scale to assess the CRS.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study for which parameters for assessing CRS were identified and reviewed by experts in the area of scale construction. Designed questionnaire was given to the 131 study subjects with objectives explained, triad of symptoms (chest pain, numbness, and burning sensation) were analyzed and the confidentiality of the data and results were been assured and a final scale including three domains including 25 item check-list was constructed. Data were analyzed for factor analysis, internal consistency (Cronbachα), test-retest reliability using SPSS v 22.0 software.
Results: The reliability of the questionnaire was tested using Cronbachs alpha which was 0.91 and the intra class correlation coefficient was 0.90; 95% CI (0.898, 0.936), P < 0.001. The test-retest reliability was assessed showing r = 0.92. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin index was 0.60 for the adequacy of samples (Bartletts test of sphericity was significant, df = 28, P = 0.0001).
Conclusion: Although these symptoms are unpleasant, they get slowly unnoticed without treatment in short duration. As the student community is so familiar with junk food culture, craving for Pizza and fast food, an amendment have to be made in public health act and the existing prevention of food adulteration act act to be strictly implemented. Moreover, results of this study provide critical information in assisting clinicians treating individuals with appropriate syndrome.
Key words: Questionnaire; Chinese Restaurant Syndrome; Monosodium Glutamate; Reliability; Validity
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