Picture-sort method for administering a food frequency questionnaire to older adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nutritional Epidemiology
• Dietary Assessment Methods

Background:

• Accurate dietary assessment is crucial for understanding health in older adults.
• Traditional methods like food frequency questionnaires can be burdensome for this population.
• Developing user-friendly and valid dietary assessment tools is an ongoing research priority.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the validity of a picture-sort method for administering the National Cancer Institute food frequency questionnaire.
• To compare nutrient intake estimates derived from the picture-sort method with those from 24-hour recalls in older adults.

Main Methods:

• A picture-sort interview was conducted in-home, followed by a 24-hour recall on the same day.
• Five additional 24-hour recalls were administered monthly to 96 older adults (aged 66-100 years).
• Nutrient intake estimates (macronutrients, cholesterol, fiber, vitamins, minerals) were compared between the picture-sort and recall methods.

Main Results:

• Correlations between picture-sort and recall estimates, after correction for attenuation, ranged from 0.26 (beta carotene) to 0.74 (saturated fat/cholesterol).
• Pearson correlation coefficients for macronutrients were between 0.41 (protein) and 0.74.
• Correlations for vitamins and minerals ranged from 0.26 to 0.62 (calcium).

Conclusions:

• The picture-sort method provides valid estimates of mean nutrient intakes in older adults, comparable to 24-hour recalls.
• This method demonstrates similar correlations with reference data as conventional food frequency questionnaires.
• The picture-sort approach may enhance interview administration ease and participant engagement without sacrificing data quality.