Relative validity of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire designed for schoolchildren in western Greece

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) has become increasingly important in epidemiologic studies. During the past few decades, a wide variety of nutritional studies have used the semiquantitative FFQ as a tool for assessing and evaluating dietary intake. One of the main concerns in a dietary analysis is the validity of the collected dietary data.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This paper discusses several methodological and statistical issues related to the validation of a semiquantitative FFQ. This questionnaire was used to assess the nutritional habits of schoolchildren in western Greece. For validation purposes, we selected 200 schoolchildren and contacted their respective parents. We evaluated the relative validity of 400 FFQs (200 children's FFQs and 200 parents' FFQs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The correlations between the children's and the parents' questionnaire responses showed that the questionnaire we designed was appropriate for fulfilling the purposes of our study and in ranking subjects according to food group intake.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study shows that the semiquantitative FFQ provides a reasonably reliable measure of dietary intake and corroborates the relative validity of our questionnaire.</p

A 'five-a-day' fruit and vegetable pack for primary school children. Part II: controlled evaluation in two Scottish schools

A pack to encourage primary school children to consume more fruit and vegetables consists of a fridge chart, a set of cardboard counters with pictures of fruit and vegetable characters, a portion guide, instructions for use and a record book. The pack was piloted in a controlled study in two Lothian schools in May and June 1997. Data were collected on four occasions with a 'Day in the Life' questionnaire, focus-group discussions and short questionnaire at the end of the study. Full sets of data were available for 99 of 113 children from the rolls of two P3 and two P4 classes. The packs were popular with the children who said that they had used them regularly during the study period. The children also reported that the packs encouraged them to eat more fruit (71 per cent) and more vegetables (59 per cent) but consumption, measured by the Day in the Life questionnaire, remained low throughout. Mean portions of fruit, fruit juice and vegetables showed small increases following the inter vention, but standard deviations were large. It was concluded that the packs are promising in their appeal to children and that future work will need to involve individual classroom teachers, the school catering service and the children's families to maximise suppor

Conducting qualitative interviews with school children in dental research

This paper explores when and how to conduct qualitative research with children in dentistry, using research interviews as a method of data collection. Methodological guidance is also provided, based on research and a recent dental public health study in which 74 children from Years 2 (6-7-year-olds) and 6 (10-11-year-olds) were interviewed about their understanding of and attitudes to food