Objective: The aim of this study was to translate and validate a French version of the English SCOFF questionnaire for the screening of eating disorders (ED) in a student population.
Methods: The translation and back-translation method were employed for adaptation of the French version of SCOFF (SCOFF-F). SCOFF-F paper questionnaire was given to female students attending yearly evaluation in the University Preventive Medicine Department. After completing the SCOFF-F, each student was evaluated by one ED specialist blinded to SCOFF-F results. The validated French version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and DSM-IV criteria for ED were employed as diagnostic references.
Results: A total of 400 women were evaluated. ED were diagnosed in 37 (9.3%) of students: eight (2%) cases of anorexia nervosa (AN) and 29 (7.3%) of bulimia nervosa (BN). Diagnostic threshold was fixed at two positive answers with a sensitivity of 94.6%, a specificity of 94.8% and an area under the curve of 96.2%. Positive and negative predictive values for ED were 65 and 99%. Similar figures were obtained separately for AN and BN.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the French version of SCOFF questionnaire is accurate and reliable for the detection of women with EDs in this high-risk student population.