Open AccessCombining food records with in‐depth probing interviews improves quality of dietary intake reporting in a group of South Asian women
Author(s) -
Kruger Rozanne,
Stonehouse Welma,
von Hurst Pamela Ruth,
Coad Jane
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2011.00809.x
Subject(s) - environmental health , medicine , food group , nutrient , food frequency questionnaire , immigration , saturated fat , refined grains , public health , population , psychological intervention , food science , geography , biology , whole grains , archaeology , psychiatry , cholesterol , nursing , ecology
Objective:To investigate if the addition of an in‐depth interview focused on cultural dietary practices could improve the quality of dietary data from food records among South Asian women in New Zealand.Methods:Cross‐sectional data were collected from 134 South Asian women (≥20 years), living in Auckland. Dietary data were collected using four‐day food records. Nutritional analysis revealed 33.6% under‐reporting of energy intakes. All women were recalled for an in‐depth probing interview focused on culture‐specific foods and dietary practices.Results:The interview revealed extensive use of dairy products and plant oils. The nutrient content of the food record alone and the food record plus interview were compared; median energy intakes were 6,852 kJ vs 7,246 kJ ( p <0.001); under‐reporting decreased by 14.2%, and total fat and protein intakes (g/day) increased ( p <0.001). Estimates of poly‐ and mono‐unsaturated fatty acids increased significantly ( p <0.001) due to greater use of plant oils due to greater use of plant oils replacing saturated fatty acid‐rich fats in food preparation. A significant increase (17%) ( p <0.001) in calcium intake reflects the higher dairy intake identified with the interview.Conclusion:The addition of an in‐depth probing interview to a four‐day food record enhanced food intake reporting. Self‐reported dietary assessments in immigrant population groups require quality control for accuracy.Implications:Methods to ensure high‐quality dietary data are essential to assess health outcomes and to inform public health interventions, especially in immigrant populations.