Abstract

ZAPATA, María Elisa; BUFFARINI, Romina; LINGIARDI, Nadia  and  GONCALVES-SOARES, Ana Luiza. Reproducibility and relative validity of a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire in an adult population of Rosario, Argentina. Rev Esp Nutr Hum Diet [online]. 2015, vol.19, n.4, pp.221-230. ISSN 2174-5145.  https://dx.doi.org/10.14306/renhyd.19.4.177.

Introduction: Dietary assessment of nutrients and food groups by food frequency questionnaire needs to be validated in each population. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the reproducibility and relative validity of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire among adults of Rosario, Argentina. Material and Methods: Two food frequency questionnaires and four 24-hour dietary recalls were applied in a sample of 88 adults. Reproducibility of food frequency questionnaire was estimated by correlation coefficients, and validity was assessed comparing the second food frequency questionnaire and the average of the 24-hour dietary recalls using cross-classification and Bland-Altman analyses. Results: Pearson and intraclass correlation coefficients showed higher correlation for food groups than for energy and nutrients. More than 65% of the subjects were classified into the same quintile or into the adjacent quintile by both food frequency questionnaires. Bland-Altman plots showed reasonably acceptable agreement between the second food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recalls, especially for the main Argentinian foods groups (meat, cereal, dairy products, vegetables and fruits). Conclusions: Overall, food frequency questionnaire showed acceptable reproducibility and relative validity for assessment main food groups and nutrient intakes for adult population in Rosario.

Keywords : Diet; Diet surveys; Reproducibility of Results; Epidemiology; Adult; Argentina.

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