Lf. Tinker et al., Measurement characteristics of 2 different self-monitoring tools used in adietary intervention study, J AM DIET A, 101(9), 2001, pp. 1031-1040
Objective To examine the measurement characteristics of 2 self-monitoring t
ools, a food diary and fat scan, used in the dietary intervention of the Wo
men's Health Trial: Feasibility in Minority Populations study.
Design Comparison of fat intake reported on the self-monitoring tools to a
criterion measure of fat intake, specifically the mean of a food frequency
questionnaire and a 4-day food record. The main outcome measures were diffe
rences in fat grams and correlations between each of the self-monitoring to
ols and the criterion measure.
Subjects/setting Six-month post randomization data from 313 women aged 50 t
o 79 years who participated in the intervention group of the Women's Health
Trial: Feasibility in Minority Populations study.
Results Both self-monitoring tools underestimated fat intake compared to th
e criterion measure, the food diary by 9 g and the fat scan by 6 g. The sel
f-monitoring instruments were better than chance at detecting a love-fat di
etary pattern, however, and did not differ from each other in their ability
to do so.
Applications/conclusions The self-monitoring tools were modestly precise as
measures of fat intake, but neither was sufficiently accurate to be reliab
le as a sole assessment of dietary adherence. Dietetics professionals are e
ncouraged to assess the measurement. properties of self-monitoring tools to
use them appropriately in supporting dietary changes.