Abstract
BackgroundDietary assessment methods that can provide high quality data while limiting participant burden and resource requirements in epidemiological research are highly sought after and continue to evolve. The use of mobile phone technology in research has increased rapidly over the last decade and offers multiple advantages to the researcher over traditional data collection methods. This study tested the acceptability and relative validity of a commercial smart phone application (app) for use as an epidemiological dietary assessment tool, compared with a traditional dietary assessment method.MethodsStudy participants completed a 4-d food diary using a modified version of the Easy Diet Diary app and two 24-h dietary recalls during the same week, for comparison. At the end of data collection, participants completed a questionnaire on their experience with both methods. Average proportions of energy from macronutrients and fibre, iron, and calcium densities from the app and 24-h recalls were compared after log transformation, by calculating mean agreement, limits of agreement (LOA), and Pearson’s correlations. The prevalence of dietary under-reporting was compared in each method using the Goldberg method.ResultsA total of 50 adults (82% women) provided data for analysis (mean age, 31 y; mean BMI, 22.4 kg/m2; 14% overweight or obese). Participant feedback showed high levels of acceptance of the app; 83% preferred using the app to completing 24-h dietary recalls. The average difference in energy intake (mean agreement) between methods was 268 kJ/d. For all intakes except alcohol, the average difference between methods was not significantly different from zero. Most limits of agreement were within an acceptable range. The prevalence of dietary misreporting was similar in both methods.ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate good feasibility for applying this commercially-developed smartphone app in epidemiological research.
Highlights
Dietary assessment methods that can provide high quality data while limiting participant burden and resource requirements in epidemiological research are highly sought after and continue to evolve
Reliable dietary assessment tools are essential in nutrition epidemiology and for advancing understanding of population dietary intakes, diet quality, dietary determinants, as well as diet-disease relationships, in public health research
Choices about which dietary assessment tool to administer in epidemiological studies are based on trade-offs between the relative validity of different dietary assessment methods, their associated burden on the respondent and researcher, and the resources required to administer them [2]
Summary
Dietary assessment methods that can provide high quality data while limiting participant burden and resource requirements in epidemiological research are highly sought after and continue to evolve. This study tested the acceptability and relative validity of a commercial smart phone application (app) for use as an epidemiological dietary assessment tool, compared with a traditional dietary assessment method. Choices about which dietary assessment tool to administer in epidemiological studies are based on trade-offs between the relative validity of different dietary assessment methods (in the absence of methods that can provide a ‘true’ measure of dietary intake), their associated burden on the respondent and researcher, and the resources required to administer them [2]. Developing dietary assessment methods that meet these requirements while keeping participant burden and resource requirements low are highly desirable
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