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How well does a telephone questionnaire measure drinking water intake?
B Robertson1, A Forbes, M Sinclair
1Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Prahran, Victoria. brent.robertson@med.monash.edu.au
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Estimating daily water intake using telephone questionnaires shows moderate accuracy. Researchers studying waterborne diseases should be cautious with minor intake differences derived from this method.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Accurate estimation of drinking water intake is crucial for studies on waterborne diseases and nutritional research.
- Limited research exists on the validity and reliability of water intake estimation methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the validity and reliability of water intake estimations using telephone questionnaires.
- To compare telephone questionnaire data against diary records for validity.
- To evaluate the consistency of telephone questionnaire data over time for reliability.
Main Methods:
- A validity and reliability study was conducted with 253 participants.
- Validity was assessed by comparing a telephone questionnaire to a participant diary.
- Reliability was assessed by comparing two separate telephone questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Plain and boiled tap water were the most frequently consumed water types.
- Median daily plain water consumption was 2.9-3.0 glasses; boiled water was 3.0 glasses.
- Telephone questionnaires demonstrated moderate agreement (57-78%) and weighted kappa (0.57-0.81) compared to diaries and in test-retest scenarios.
Conclusions:
- Water intake estimations via telephone questionnaires exhibit only moderate validity and reliability when compared to diaries.
- Caution is advised when interpreting small variations in drinking water intake data obtained from telephone surveys in epidemiological or nutritional research.