Evaluation of the southwest food frequency questionnaire

The development of the Southwest Food Frequency Questionnaire (SWFFQ) was u ndertaken to provide a culturally appropriate means of collecting dietary i nformation for the Southwest region of the United States. The study measure d the reliability and validity of the SWFFQ and a modified shortened versio n (MSFFQ). Hispanic (n = 79) and non-Hispanic (n = 80) subjects participate d in the study and were randomized to complete two administrations of eithe r the SWFFQ or the MSFFQ. Each subject provided four days of dietary recall s over a four month period. FFQs were administered 2 and 4 weeks after the last 24 hour recall was completed. The SWFFQ had greater mean reproducibili ty coefficients (0.615 to 0.832) compared with the MSFFQ and greater validi ty coefficients (0.349 to 0.700) when disattenuated for macronutrients,vita mins and minerals. Hispanics had greater reproducibility, but non-Hispanics had greater validity coefficients. In conclusion, the SWFFQ is an instrume nt that can be used effectively for its target population.