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.
Institute of Internal Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, 2nd School of Medicine, University of Naples, Italy.
A A
AA
Rivellese
M M
MM
Ventura
G
G
Vespasiani
M
M
Bruni
V
V
Moriconi
D
D
Pacioni
M T
MT
Sulpini
R
R
Borrelli
A
A
Giacco
C
C
Cangemi
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