OpenDRS: An Open-source 24-hour Recall for Mobile Devices (P13-004-19)

Abstract

ObjectivesOur aim was to develop a 24-hour recall program using open-source language that can be readily adapted for use on multiple platforms and in different settings. MethodsWe developed the Open Dietary Recall System (OpenDRS), a multi-pass, 24-hour recall survey using the XLSForm programming language. XLSForm operates in Microsoft Excel and is used by several free or subscription-based electronic survey platforms that deploy forms via Android devices or online. The first pass collects a brief list of foods consumed, the second pass collects descriptive details and added ingredients for each food, and the third pass collects portion size estimates. The final pass reviews the recorded data with the option to edit or add foods. The program references external food and ingredient lists in .csv format. These food and ingredient lists are customizable for each survey setting, can be coded to match nutrient composition or recipe tables, and can be amended over the course of a study. Questions or response options can be added or edited to fit study-specific data collection methods. Photos can be incorporated for food identification or portion size estimation. Two case studies from adaptations in Malawi and Haiti will be presented. ResultsOpenDRS was used to collect 24-hour dietary intake data among 6- to 15-month-old children in Malawi, for a randomized, controlled complementary feeding trial. The median number of foods reported was 6, and the median survey duration was 9 minutes. For a national nutrition survey of 6- to 59-month-old children and their caregivers in Haiti, the program was expanded to record recipe data and to capture caregiver and child intakes in one electronic survey form. Recipes reported during the caregiver’s recall can be linked to the child’s recall if both consumed the same mixed dish. ConclusionsOpenDRS is an open-source 24-hour recall program which has been used in low- and middle-income countries. The XLSForm program for data collection and Stata code for data formatting will be made available to researchers conducting nutrition surveys via the Open Science Framework. Funding SourcesThe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and GAIN.