Validation of a food-frequency questionnaire for use in pregnancy

Bibliographic Data

ID15090952
AuthorsTheodora Mouratidou (0000-0002-3726-1066, University of Sheffield, corresponding author), Fiona Ford (0000-0003-4515-7848, Jessop Hospital), Robert Fraser (0000-0002-1475-1863, Jessop Hospital), Robert B Fraser
Year2006
Volume9
Issue4
Pages515-522
Publication date2006-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1079/phn2005876
PMID16870025
OpenAlexW2104532728
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited24

Objectives As a part of an ongoing project to develop a nutritional screening tool, we evaluated the performance of a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in terms of validity in a Sheffield Caucasian pregnant population using two different statistical approaches – the correlation coefficient and the limits of agreement (LOA). The FFQ was designed specifically for pregnant women and previously used in a large-scale study. Design A validation study. Setting A community-based field study of a general population of pregnant women booked for their first antenatal appointment at the Jessop Wing, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. Subjects One hundred and twenty-three women of different socio-economic status, aged between 17 and 43 years, provided complete dietary data. Results The validity of the FFQ was tested against a series of two 24-hour recalls. As expected, the intakes of all examined nutrients, except for iodine, carotene, vitamin E, biotin, vitamin C and alcohol, were higher when determined by the FFQ than when determined by 24-hour recall. Pearson's correlation coefficient between the two methods ranged from 0.19 (added sugar, zinc) to 0.47 (Englyst fibre). The LOA were broader for some of the nutrients, e.g. protein, Southgate fibre and alcohol, and an increasing lack of agreement between the two methods was identified with higher dietary intakes. Conclusions The FFQ gave useful estimates of the nutrient intakes of Caucasian pregnant women and appears to be a valid tool for categorising pregnant women according to dietary intake. The FFQ performed well for most nutrients and had acceptable agreement with the 24-hour recall

Biology · Environmental health · Food frequency questionnaire · Population · Pregnancy · Birth, Development, and Health · Demography · Gestational Diabetes Research and Management · Medicine · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Gerontology

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