Abstract

This study was designed to estimate the improvement of Validity for food frequency questionnaire(FFQ) by offering multiple choice portion size in developing a questionnaire. Validity of the two methods(food frequency questionnaire I=FFQ I & Food frequency questionnaire II=FFQ II) was tested in comparison with reference method of the 7-day weighed record(7DWR). Dietary consumption data of the three methods(FFQ I, FFQ II & 7DWR) were collected from 101 female university students for the analysis. Validity was measured in two categories : One was the nutrient intake value from the three methods, the other was the identification of between individual variation within the group. Spearman's rank order correlation test and distribution graphs were used for the analysis. The result showed that individual intake value of the FFQII was closer to that of the 7DWR than that of the FFQ I.Spearman's rank order correlation between the FFQII and the 7DWR did not show any improved correlation. The distribution graphs of nutrient intake derived from both the FFQ I and the FFQII were different from that of the 7DWR. Therefore, it could be suggested that single one portion size food frequency questionnaire is an equally efficient method as a multiple choice food frequency questionnaire to be adopted in epidemiologic studies.

Keywords

• validity;
• food-frequency-questionnaire;
• portion-size;
• epidemiologic studies