A rapid dietary screening device for clinics

A rapid dietary screening device was developed for use in clinics and tested for validity, reliability, and acceptability. Validity was tested using dietary information from 29 8-day weighed food diaries. For each diary, a score was derived by calculating a mean Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) for nine nutrients. Dietary information from each diary was also entered on the Dietary Intake Form (DIF). The relationship of the mean NAR and DIF scores had a positive correlation of 0.83. Reliability was determined by testing undergraduate students in a non-nutrition course twice, two weeks apart. Forty repeated paired food group and total dietary scores revealed positive correlations, with r = 0.81 for total dietary score, 0.91 for dairy products, 0.78 for protein, 0.80 for fruits and vegetables, and 0.88 for bread. Acceptability of DIF was measured by the time it took to fill out and evaluate it, as well as by the percentage of incomplete DIFs. The subjects included 135 women aged 12 to 50 years from three Northeastern Oklahoma Planned Parenthood clinics. The mean time to fill out and evaluate the DIF was 4 to 7 minutes. Seventy-nine percent of the individuals tested were able to complete the DIF. Dietary patterns could not be predicted in this population by age, income level, education level, race, or clinic site. The DIF provides a rapid, valid, reliable, and acceptable method of identifying the individual with a poor diet. Because it does not require the expertise of a nutritionist either for its completion or for its evaluation, this device permits the dietitian to allocate her/his time more effectively under time and cost limitations.