A Systematic Review of Tools to Assess Coeliac Disease-Related Knowledge

Abstract

Background: Coeliac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disorder, with dietary exclusion of gluten the only current treatment. A good knowledge of CD and gluten-free diet (GFD) is essential for those with CD to support effective self-management. Knowledge assessment with a validated tool helps evaluate understanding and knowledge gaps to better tailor educational resources. This study’s aim was to perform a systematic review to identify validated CD knowledge assessment tools. Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed, and searches were carried out in five literature databases. Papers were reviewed for tool development and testing process and assessed against pre-defined criteria for feasibility, validity, and reliability. Results: Twenty-five papers were included in the final analysis. Studies were from 16 countries, with a range of target populations, study designs, and development processes. Eleven reported pilot testing, and five assessed readability. Content validity was assessed in ten papers and formal content validity testing in one. Many tools contained items affecting generalisability outside the region developed. Conclusions: For a CD knowledge assessment tool to be suitable for use, it needs to be well designed, tested, and generalisable. No papers identified satisfied all requirements, thus highlighting a need to develop an appropriate tool.