title: Validity and reliability of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire measuring n-3 fatty acid intakes in cardiac patients in the Midwest: a validation pilot study.
abstract: The purpose of this pilot study was to test the validity and reliability of a quantitative n-3 fatty acid food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for later use with larger groups of individuals. A convenience sample of heart patients provided dietary data via three 24-hour food recalls and FFQs. Participants were women (n=17) and men (n=11), 43 to 77 years of age. The association of mean daily intake of n-3 fatty acids obtained using food recalls and the FFQ was assessed by Pearson correlation. The reliability of the FFQ was assessed using coefficient alpha. Correlation of n-3 fatty acid intake using the food recalls and the FFQ was r=0.42 (P<0.05). The coefficient alpha for the test-retest of the FFQ was .83. The top two foods, walnuts and flaxseed, contributed 58% of the n-3 fatty acid intake, and the third food, salmon, contributed 5%. This quantitative n-3 FFQ is a valid instrument for use in place of food recalls for estimating n-3 fatty acid intakes in heart patients and is a reliable instrument to estimate n-3 fatty acid intakes from plant, animal, and seafood sources. The FFQ should be tested in a larger population. Registered dietitians can use this FFQ to screen for intakes, educate patients on food sources, and measure change in intakes after nutrition intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE 68583-0806, USA. pgooder@alltel.net
authors.forename: Paula K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Ritter-Gooder
authors.forename: Nancy M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Kimberly B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Heidal
authors.forename: Kent M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Eskridge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006801:Humans; D031324:Juglans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3