Construction and validation of questionnaires to assess the risk of veterinary antibiotics in egg consumption and their impact on food safety.

Poultry production is one of the most important agricultural sectors worldwide due to the high nutritional value of its products, such as meat and eggs, for human consumption. In this regard, veterinary antibiotics are used to treat or prevent disease-causing pathogens in order to ensure and maintain production. The objective of the study was to design and validate two questionnaires for assessing the risk of veterinary antibiotics used in egg-laying hens and their perceived impact in relation to food safety. Its logic and the validity of its content were determined by expert evaluation. Its construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis, and its reliability, with Cronbach's Alpha coefficient. The survey was applied to 44 establishments or egg producers in the Espaillat province and to 385 consumers in the Santo Domingo province. A Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.799 was obtained for egg producers and veterinarians, and of 0.771, for consumers. The principal component analysis identified a KMO sample size adequacy measure of 0.558 for egg producers and veterinarians, and 0.797 for consumers. The questionnaire for egg producers and veterinarians consists of 8 factors and 22 items, and the questionnaire for consumers, of 3 factors and 8 items. The results confirm that the scale found is reliable and valid for the construct the risks associated with the potential consumption of food containing veterinary antibiotic residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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