title: Comparison of paper- and web-based dietary records: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Paper-based dietary records (Paper-DR) can be replaced by web-based dietary records (Web-DR) in both epidemiological studies and clinical practice to reduce the time and logistic burden. We aimed to compare Paper-DR and Web-DR.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the matching of different food items (n = 1,103) from Paper-DR and Web-DR for energy and 48 nutrients among 16 pregnant volunteers, with DR for the same individuals matched for the same 4 days. Paper-DR were coded into the web-based version (referred to as Paper-Web-DR) independently by the same research dietitian. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test comparing mean rank differences, Spearman's ρ to measure associations and Bland-Altman limits of agreement to evaluate the level of agreement between the two dietary methods across the range of parameters were used. Volunteers also completed an evaluation questionnaire regarding the user acceptability of Paper-DR and Web-DR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high correlation between Paper-DR and Web-DR was noted. There were statistically insignificant differences among 45 nutrients, except for free sugars (p < 0.001), α-linolenic acid (p = 0.041), folate (p = 0.036) and pantothenic acid (p = 0.023). Volunteers found the Paper-DR equally time-consuming as the Web-DR. The majority of the volunteers (75%) preferred the Web-DR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paper-DR and Web-DR were comparable across a range of nutritional parameters, with a few exceptions. The Web-DR was more convenient for the majority and has substantial logistic and cost advantages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Evgen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benedik
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koroušić Seljak
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simčič
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rogelj
authors.forename: Borut
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bratanič
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Rok
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orel
authors.forename: Nataša
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fidler Mis
mesh_terms: D015930:Diet Records; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D016015:Logistic Models; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000145:classification*
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients