Reverse versus forward order reporting and the accuracy of fourth-graders' recalls of school breakfast and school lunch.
BACKGROUND
Do children recall school breakfast and school lunch intake during 24-h recalls more accurately when prompted to report meals and snacks in reverse versus forward order?


METHODS
One hundred twenty-one fourth-graders stratified by race (Black, White) and gender were each observed and interviewed twice (once per order) regarding the previous day's intake. Omission and intrusion rates determined accuracy for reporting items. Total inaccuracy determined accuracy for reporting items and amounts.


RESULTS
Results failed to indicate significant effects of interviewer, weekday, sequence (first or second recall), or race on omission rates, intrusion rates, or total inaccuracy. A significant order by gender interaction was found for omission rates, which were lower (i.e., better) for males for reverse (53%) versus forward recalls (62%), but not females (61 versus 53%) (P < 0.008). Intrusion rates were acceptable for males for 54% of reverse recalls and 40% of forward recalls (P = 0.095). Means were 57 and 32%, and 6.4 servings for omission rate, intrusion rate, and total inaccuracy for reverse recalls, and 56 and 39%, and 6.9 servings for forward recalls.


CONCLUSIONS
Prompting children to report in reverse versus forward order improved omission and intrusion rates for males more so than females. Regardless of reverse or forward order, children reported <50% of items observed; furthermore, >30% of items reported were not observed. Research is needed to enhance accuracy of children's dietary recalls.
Baxter
Suzanne Domel
SD
Medical College of Georgia, Department of Pediatrics, Georgia Prevention Institute HS-1640, Augusta, GA 30912-3710, USA. sbaxter@mail.mcg.edu
Thompson
William O
WO
Smith
Albert F
AF
Litaker
Mark S
MS
Yin
Zenong
Z
Frye
Francesca H A
FH
Guinn
Caroline H
CH
Baglio
Michelle L
ML
Shaffer
Nicole M
NM
D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000145:classification*; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000145:classification*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D019370:Observation; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*