Repeatability and validity of a combined mail and telephone questionnaire on demographics, diet, exercise and health status in an insured-dog population

The validity and repeatability of a telephone questionnaire on demographics , diet, living patterns, exercise and health status in a well-defined dog p opulation was assessed. Randomly selected dogs aged 1-3 years in the larges t animal-insurance database of Sweden were included in the study. The repeatability was measured by doing two identical interviews with 64 do g owners on average 39 (S.D. 17) days apart. The overall response percentag e was 66% (64/97). The repeatabilities for demographic data were excellent (r(sp) 0.82-1.00), and dietary intake and feeding patterns correlated well between interviews (r(sp)0.66-0.99, kappa 0.57-0.95). However, correlations for the frequency and daily intake of specific table foods had a wide rang e (r(sp) 0.06-0.97). The energy and specific nutrient intakes had high repe atabilities (r(sp) 0.72-0.79). Dog owners were quite consistent in reportin g living patterns, exercise and dog-training activities (r(sp) 0.65-0.94, k appa 0.43-0.88), except for number of walks per day (r(sp) 0.50). The repea tabilities also were excellent for the evaluation of health status (r(sp) 0 .78-0.99, kappa 0.81-1.00). The questionnaire also was compared to a 7-day weighed record of total food intake and registration of exercise to give data on the validity. The ques tionnaire was given 62 (S.D. 19) days before the weighed registrations, and the overall response percentage was 76% (58/76). Correlations for the freq uency and amount of commercial feeds given were high (0.81-0.92), although correlations for specific table foods had a wider range (0.03-0.81). Correl ations for total energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate intakes were between 0.80 and 0.85 in the total diet, and 0.79-0.85 in the commercial part of t he diet. The correlations for frequency and amount of exercise ranged betwe en 0.50 and 0.77. Corresponding correlations for training activities (such as hunting tracking and obedience) were 0.51-0.68. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.