Feasibility of innovative dietary assessment in epidemiological studies using the approach of combining different...

To assess the feasibility of combining short-term and long-term dietary assessment instruments as new concept for improving usual dietary intake assessment on the individual level.

Feasibility study of completing three 24 h dietary recalls (24-HDR) and a self-administered food propensity questionnaire (FPQ). The 24-HDR was conducted by monthly telephone interviews, using EPIC-SOFT software. The FPQ was completely standardized across cohorts and offered either as a web-based tool or in paper format.

Random sample derived from five ongoing European cohort studies (EPIC-San Sebastian, EPIC-Florence, EPIC-Potsdam, Estonia Genome Center (EGC) and Norwegian Women and Cancer study (NOWAC)).

A total of 400 participants.

Overall, the total participation rate for the present study was 65.3 % (n 261). On average, completion of the 24-HDR was highest for the first 24-HDR (63.0 %) and decreased slightly for the second (60.3 %) and third 24-HDR (56.3 %). The proportions of selecting the web-based FPQ varied among the study centres, with the highest in EGC (92.9 %) and NOWAC (70.0 %) and the lowest in EPIC-San Sebastian (25.5 %) and EPIC-Potsdam (33.9 %). Web users rarely requested support and were younger and more highly educated than those who completed the paper format.

The present study supports the feasibility of a combined application of three 24-HDR and an FPQ in culturally different populations. The varying acceptance of the web-based instrument across populations requires a flexible application of assessment instruments.