Development and content validation of functional foods education module for adults in Malaysia

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are increasing among Malaysian adults aged 19-65 years (NHMS, 2019). Functional foods, which provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition, have the potential to mitigate these conditions. However, awareness and understanding of functional foods remain low due to limited public education and engagement with conventional health education. This study aimed to develop and validate an infographic-based educational module on functional foods tailored to Malaysian adults, to enhance knowledge, motivation and healthier dietary choices. A Design and Development Research (DDR) approach was applied in three phases: (1) Needs Analysis which involving review of literature and national dietary guidelines to inform content; (2) Design and Development which creation of 32-page module using Canva, featuring infographics, simple language and culturally relevant content; and (3) Evaluation which content validation by eight experts in medicine and dietetics using the Educational Content Validation Instrument in Health (ECVIH). Validation metrics included Item Content Validity Index (I-CVI), Scale-level CVI (S-CVI/Ave) and Universal Agreement (S-CVI/UA). The module showed strong content validity. The relevance domain scored highest (S-CVI/Ave = 0.875), followed by structure/presentation (S-CVI/Ave = 0.79) and objectives (S-CVI/Ave = 0.75). While most experts agreed on the module’s clarity and value, suggestions were made to improve language simplicity and interactivity. The content was praised for its evidence-based information, visual appeal and potential to influence knowledge and attitudes about functional foods. This validated module presents a promising tool to improve functional food literacy and promote healthier eating among Malaysian adults. Future efforts should focus on translation into Bahasa Malaysia, end-user testing and integration into public health programs.