Pilot study of the validity and reliability of brief fruit, juice and vegetable screeners among inner city African-American boys and 17 to 20 year old adults

Objective: Compare the validity and reliability of a one-week fruit, juice and vegetable (FJV) food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that does not requir e averaging in response categories and one-week food recognition form (FRF) against three to four 24-hour dietary recalls (24hdr) among mostly African -American boys and 17 to 20 year-old adults for possible use in subsequent intervention studies. Design: In Study One, the FFQ was administered to 40 boys in four Boy Scout (BS) troops on two occasions separated by two weeks. The FRF was administe red to 36 boys in four other BS troops after school an six school days, cov ering seven consecutive days. All these boys completed four 24hdr, includin g one Sunday. In Study Two, 56 17 to 20 year-old adults completed the FFQ d uring telephone interviews on two occasions two weeks apart. In between, th ey completed three 24hdr by telephone interview on one weekend and two week days. Subjects/Setting: Participants in Study One were members of eight urban BS troops, and in Study Two were high school (HS) seniors and recent HS gradua tes. BS data were collected at times scheduled for troop meetings or immedi ately after school. The young adult group completed telephone interviews in the evenings and on weekends. Main Measures: This research compared a FJV FFQ and a FJV FRF (incorporatin g the same 24 foods) against three to four 24hdr conducted using NDS softwa re from the University of Minnesota. Statistical Analyses Performed: Descriptive statistics, intraclass correlat ions, Spearman correlations, corrections for attenuation Results: The first FFQ provided substantially higher mean consumption estim ates for both groups. The FFQ had moderate reliability across assessments a nd moderate validity coefficients for fruit and total FJV combined for the BS sample. The FRF had higher validity coefficients for juice. The FFQ had moderate reliability and poor validity among the young adult group. Correct ion for measurement error in the 24hdr substantially increased validity coe fficients to high levels for BS fruit and total FJV and to moderate levels for the HS groups, with some exceptions. Applications/Conclusions: FFQ more validly assessed fruit and combined FJV consumption for the nine to 14 year-old BS but overestimated mean values. F RF means were closer to those of the 24hdr and were more valid for assessin g juice consumption. The FFQ had moderate validity among the young adult gr oup but overestimated consumption. Further research is needed on simpler me thods of reporting diet in these age groups.