Evaluation of new computerized method for recording 7-day food intake in IDDM patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a new computerized method for recording 7-day food intake.


METHODS
Randomized crossover trial was conducted with patients recording the amount and type of every food and drink consumed during a week by either a computerized device (Food-meter) or recording the data in a diary. Each method was applied twice. Twenty-one insulin-dependent diabetic patients (mean +/- SD age 25 +/- 9 yr) were studied.


RESULTS
The two methods showed very good agreement in the evaluation of the patients' diets (1792 +/- 408 vs. 1764 +/- 436 kcal/day, 84 +/- 19 vs. 82 +/- 21 g/day protein, 68 +/- 22 vs. 67 +/- 23 g/day fat, 210 +/- 60 vs. 207 +/- 58 g/day carbohydrate with the conventional and computerized methods, respectively). The variability between the methods and the variability within each method were of similar magnitude.


CONCLUSIONS
The Food-meter represents a useful tool for computerizing the 7-day food record. The method is easy, reliable, and time saving. Moreover, it minimizes the risk of transcriptional errors.
Rivellese
A A
AA
Institute of Internal Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, 2nd School of Medicine, University of Naples, Italy.
Ventura
M M
MM
Vespasiani
G
G
Bruni
M
M
Moriconi
V
V
Pacioni
D
D
Sulpini
M T
MT
Borrelli
R
R
Giacco
A
A
Cangemi
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003199:Computer Systems / Q000592:standards*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000178:diet therapy*; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors