Effect of interviewer recording practices on nutrient intake--Bogalusa Heart Study

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Dietary Assessment Methods
• Child Nutrition

Background:

• Accurate dietary intake data is crucial for assessing child nutrition.
• The 24-hour dietary recall is a common method, but interviewer variability can affect data quality.
• Standardized recording practices are essential for reliable nutrient analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze interviewer consistency in recording dietary recalls from children.
• To identify specific areas of variability in food recording and nutrient assessment.
• To propose criteria for interviewer training to enhance the 24-hour recall tool's reliability.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of duplicate 24-hour dietary recalls collected independently by interviewers from the same child.
• Examination of food names, quantities assessed, and food identification numbers.
• Nutrient content analysis using the Extended Table of Nutrient Values and paired t-test statistics.

Main Results:

• 76% agreement on recorded food names; 87% agreement on food identification numbers for matched foods.
• Greatest quantity differences observed for liquids, meats, and sweets.
• Significant sequence effect found, with higher energy and fat intake in the first interview; after-school snacks showed most variability.

Conclusions:

• Interviewer recording practices significantly impact dietary recall data quality and nutrient intake assessment in children.
• Standardized training and entry-level criteria for interviewers are recommended to improve the reliability of the 24-hour recall method.
• Addressing variability in specific food types and eating occasions is key to enhancing data accuracy.