The web-based ASSO-food frequency questionnaire for adolescents: relative and absolute reproducibility assessment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A new food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) has been recently developed within the Italian Adolescents and Surveillance System for the Obesity prevention (ASSO) Project; it was found to be appropriate for ranking adolescents in food and nutrient levels of intake. The aim of this study was to assess the relative and absolute reproducibility of the ASSO-FFQ for 24 food groups, energy and 52 nutrients.

Methods

A test-retest study was performed on two ASSO-FFQs administered one month apart of each other to 185 adolescents, aged 14-17 and attending secondary schools in Palermo (Italy). Wilcoxon test assessed differences in median daily intakes between the two FFQs. Agreement was evaluated by quintiles comparison and weighted kappa. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman method assessed the relative and absolute reliability respectively.

Results

Significant difference (p?0.40) were assessed for thirteen food groups, energy and forty-three nutrients. Limits of Agreement were narrow for almost all food groups and all nutrients.

Conclusions

The ASSO-FFQ is a reliable instrument for estimating food groups, energy and nutrients intake in adolescents.

SUBMITTER: Filippi AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4320587 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature