The Food to eNhance Our Wellness (FoodNOW) Questionnaire was developed in collaboration with community partners, service organizations and academics of various fields of study (i.e., Dietetics, Nursing, Anthropology, 2SLGBTQ+ Health). The purpose of this questionnaire was to learn more about the lived experiences of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with food and nutrition programming in Nova Scotia (NS). The overall goal of collecting this information was to advocate for improved food and nutrition programs offered to people living with HIV or AIDS in NS.
The questionnaire facilitates the collection of information related to:
- food and nutrition programs;
- participant’s relationship with food, nutrition and their body;
- daily experiences with pain;
- food security and food access; and
- participant demographics
This survey tool consists of 41-mixed-form questions (i.e., multiple-choice, and short answer). The questions and responses were informed by a comprehensive literature review (you can find here), previous findings from the FoodNOW project (you can find here), and established questionnaire methodology and tools. The questionnaire underwent face/content validation by 20 different individuals; including people working at HIV service organizations, survey development experts, Dietitians, Epidemiologists, researchers, and community-based educators.
In 2023, the FoodNOW questionnaire was implemented in Nova Scotia (online via LimeSurvey), after we completed a series of one-to-one interviews. This survey tool may be adapted for use in any province. We invite and encourage researchers from across Canada to adapt and use this tool. To do so, please email Shannan.grant2@msvu.ca.
This research and questionnaire was reviewed and approved by the Mount Saint Vincent University Research Ethics Board (#2022-082).
FoodNOW would like to thank the project’s participants, grant holders, researchers, partners and collaborators, for their invaluable insight throughout this research and in the development of the FoodNOW Questionnaire.
To learn more, please visit: www.msvu.ca/foodnow