Performance of a short tool to assess dietary intakes of fruits and vegetables, percentage energy from fat and fibre.
OBJECTIVE
We describe the methods used to develop and score a 17-item 'screener' designed to estimate intake of fruit and vegetables, percentage energy from fat and fibre. The ability of this screener and a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to measure these exposures is evaluated.


METHODS
Using US national food consumption data, stepwise multiple regression was used to identify the foods to be included on the instrument; multiple regression analysis was used to develop scoring algorithms. The performance of the screener was evaluated in three different studies. Estimates of intakes measured by the screener and the FFQ were compared with true usual intake based on a measurement error model.


METHODS
US adult population.


METHODS
For development of instrument, n=9323 adults. For testing of instrument, adult men and women in three studies completing multiple 24-hour dietary recalls, FFQ and screeners, n=484, 462 and 416, respectively.


RESULTS
Median recalled intakes for examined exposures were generally estimated closely by the screener. In the various validation studies, the correlations between screener estimates and estimated true intake were 0.5-0.8. In general, the performances of the screener and the full FFQ were similar; estimates of attenuation were lower for screeners than for full FFQs.


CONCLUSIONS
When coupled with appropriate reference data, the screener approach described may yield useful estimates of intake, for both surveillance and epidemiological purposes.
Thompson
Frances E
FE
Risk Factor Surveillance and Methodology Branch, Applied Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, EPN 4016, 6130 Executive Blvd, MSC 7344, Bethesda, MD 20892-7344, USA. ThompsoF@mail.nih.gov
Midthune
Douglas
D
Subar
Amy F
AF
Kahle
Lisa L
LL
Schatzkin
Arthur
A
Kipnis
Victor
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014675:Vegetables
D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber