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Evaluation of the test–retest reliability of a modified FFQ for assessing food and nutrient intake in Royal Air Force phase-1 recruits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2010

R. Leiper ,
S. A. Lanham-New ,
A. Dziubak ,
D. Whittamore ,
S. Kilminster  and
J. L. Fallowfield
R. Leiper
Affiliation:
Regional Medical Centre, RAF Halton, Aylesbury HP22 5PG, Bucks., UK
S. A. Lanham-New
Affiliation:
University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, Surrey, UK
A. Dziubak
Affiliation:
Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, Gosport PO12 2DL, Hants., UK
D. Whittamore
Affiliation:
University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, Surrey, UK
S. Kilminster
Affiliation:
Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, Gosport PO12 2DL, Hants., UK
J. L. Fallowfield
Affiliation:
Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, Gosport PO12 2DL, Hants., UK
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Abstract

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Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 69 , Issue OCE1: Over- and undernutrition: challenges and approaches. 29 June–2 July 2009 , 2010 , E66
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2009

A FFQ was developed to support investigations into habitual food and nutrient intakes, lifestyle risk factors and incidence of illness and injury during phase-1 recruit training at RAF Halton. The FFQ was modified from a validated questionnaire(Reference Lanham and Bolton-Smith1), which has been extensively used(Reference New, Bolton-Smith and Grubb2). The modified FFQ included specific food items available within a UK military training establishment and terminology familiar to young (16–33 years; male and female) recruits. The aim of the present study was to investigate the test–retest reliability of the FFQ, with concomitant validation work(Reference Delaney, Lanham-New and Leiper3).

The FFQ was initially piloted in RAF recruits (n 36), males (31) females (5) who completed the FFQ in a classroom on two separate occasions 1 week apart. Spearman Rank tests were conducted on ranked data in a metric analysis. The ‘times per day’ items were found to be not reliable but all ‘times per week’ items were completed by >90% of respondents and were reliable (r 0.5–0.8, P<0.01).

Following this first pilot study a modified FFQ was devised in which the ‘times per day’ items were removed and the ‘times per week’ Likert scale was reformatted to provide a more intuitive numerical range to improve compliance. This modified FFQ was distributed to a new sample of recruits (n 33) on two occasions (FFQ1 and FFQ2) 1 week apart under classroom conditions.

CHO, carbohydrate. **P>0.01 (Spearman Rank test).

Macronutrient intakes determined from the modified FFQ are shown in the Table. The test–retest reliability was consistent with previous studies. Carbohydrate intake represented 45% total energy intake (fat 38% total energy, protein 17% total energy). Recruits reported that the modified FFQ took 22 (sd 8) min to complete and the FFQ instructions and questions were well received. Hence, the utility of the FFQ was suitable for use with recruits in a busy military training establishment.

The authors would like to thank colleagues at RAF Halton, Aylesbury, Bucks., for their support and assistance.

References

1. Lanham, SA & Bolton-Smith, C (1993) Proc Nutr Soc 52, 330A.Google Scholar
2. New, SA, Bolton-Smith, C, Grubb, D et al. . (1997) Am J Clin Nutr 65, 1831–1839.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Delaney, S, Lanham-New, SA, Leiper, R et al. . (2010) Proc Nutr Soc 69, OCE1, E65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar