A computerized quantitative food frequency analysis for the clinical setting: use in documentation and counseling

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Health Informatics
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Evaluating nutrition counseling effectiveness is crucial amid rising healthcare costs.
• Accurate dietary assessment before and after intervention is key to determining counseling efficacy.
• Existing dietary assessment methods have limitations hindering routine clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a directly computer-readable Quantitative Food Frequency Analysis (QFFA) method.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of implementing QFFA in outpatient nutrition counseling.
• To provide immediate, actionable feedback for patients and healthcare teams.

Main Methods:

• Developed and implemented a novel computer-readable QFFA system at USC School of Medicine.
• Conducted 1-hour interviews using pictorial menus to assess "usual" dietary intake.
• Utilized the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Food Table database for nutrient computation.

Main Results:

• The QFFA system computes intake for 61 nutrients, including 23 fatty acids.
• Immediate feedback is provided via a computer printout with summary, alerts, food listings, and nutrient intake graphs.
• The system facilitates routine dietary assessment and documentation for nutrition counseling.

Conclusions:

• The developed QFFA method offers a feasible and efficient solution for dietary assessment in nutrition counseling.
• This tool enhances the documentation of nutrition counseling effectiveness, supporting its value and reimbursement.
• Immediate feedback and comprehensive nutrient analysis make QFFA a valuable clinical tool.