title: Validity and reliability of an omega-3 fatty acid food frequency questionnaire for first-generation Midwestern Latinas.
abstract: This study tested the hypothesis that a culturally developed omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) could be an accurate instrument to capture n-3 fatty acid food intakes of first-generation Midwestern Latinas. The goal of the study was to assess validity and test-retest reliability of an FFQ to estimate total n-3 fatty acid (total n-3), α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intakes. An n-3 FFQ was developed and pilot tested. Two FFQs and 3 nonconsecutive 24-hour recalls were collected from 162 participants. Pearson correlation and paired t test were used to test the hypothesis. Correlation of the 2 FFQs was 0.71 for total n-3, 0.65 for ALA, 0.74 for EPA, and 0.54 for DHA (P < .01). The means of the 2 FFQs and of the 24-hour recalls were not significantly different for total n-3 and ALA (P > .05), but were significantly different for EPA and DHA. The n-3 FFQ had acceptable reliability, validated only total n-3 and ALA, and provided relevant findings about the n-3 eating habits of Midwestern Latinas.
authors.affiliation: Center for Public Health and Health Policy, University of Connecticut, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Karina R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Lora
authors.forename: Nancy M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Kent M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Eskridge
authors.forename: Kaye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stanek-Krogstrand
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ritter-Gooder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054521:Cultural Competency; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid