Francesca H.A. Frye

Accuracy of Fourth-Graders' Dietary Recalls of School Breakfast and School Lunch Validated with Observations: In-Person versus Telephone Interviews

OBJECTIVE To investigate the accuracy of childrens dietary recalls of school breakfast and school lunch validated with observations and obtained during in-person versus telephone interviews. DESIGN Each child was observed eating school breakfast and school lunch and was interviewed that evening about that days intake. SETTING Ten elementary schools. PARTICIPANTS A sample of fourth-graders was randomly selected within race (black, white) and gender strata, observed, and interviewed in person (n = 33) or by telephone (n = 36). MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURED Rates for omissions (items observed but not reported) and intrusions (items reported but not observed) were calculated to determine accuracy for reporting items. A measure of total inaccuracy was calculated to determine inaccuracy for reporting items and amounts combined. ANALYSIS Analysis of variance; chi-square. RESULTS Interview type (in person, telephone) did not significantly affect recall accuracy. For omission rate, intrusion rate, and total inaccuracy, means were 34%, 19%, and 4.6 servings for in-person recalls and 32%, 16%, and 4.3 servings for telephone recalls of school breakfast and school lunch. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The accuracy of childrens recalls of school breakfast and school lunch is not significantly different whether obtained in person or by telephone. Whether interviewed in person or by telephone, children reported only 67% of items observed; furthermore, 17% of items reported were not observed.

Reverse versus forward order reporting and the accuracy of fourth-graders’ recalls of school breakfast and school lunch

BACKGROUND Do children recall school breakfast and school lunch intake during 24-h recalls more accurately when prompted to report meals and snacks in reverse versus forward order? METHODS One hundred twenty-one fourth-graders stratified by race (Black, White) and gender were each observed and interviewed twice (once per order) regarding the previous days intake. Omission and intrusion rates determined accuracy for reporting items. Total inaccuracy determined accuracy for reporting items and amounts. RESULTS Results failed to indicate significant effects of interviewer, weekday, sequence (first or second recall), or race on omission rates, intrusion rates, or total inaccuracy. A significant order by gender interaction was found for omission rates, which were lower (i.e., better) for males for reverse (53%) versus forward recalls (62%), but not females (61 versus 53%) (P < 0.008). Intrusion rates were acceptable for males for 54% of reverse recalls and 40% of forward recalls (P = 0.095). Means were 57 and 32%, and 6.4 servings for omission rate, intrusion rate, and total inaccuracy for reverse recalls, and 56 and 39%, and 6.9 servings for forward recalls. CONCLUSIONS Prompting children to report in reverse versus forward order improved omission and intrusion rates for males more so than females. Regardless of reverse or forward order, children reported <50% of items observed; furthermore, >30% of items reported were not observed. Research is needed to enhance accuracy of childrens dietary recalls.

Interview format influences the accuracy of children's dietary recalls validated with observations

This report describes a comparison of the accuracy of childrens dietary recalls obtained using either open or meal format interviews. Fourth-graders were randomly selected, observed eating school meals (breakfast, lunch), and interviewed that evening regarding that days intake with children randomly assigned to open (n = 12) or meal (n = 11) format interviews. The weighted numbers of items observed eaten did not differ by format, but greater weighted numbers of items were reported eaten with meal format interviews than with open format interviews. Reporting performance was more accurate with open than with meal format interviews: Although the omission rates did not differ significantly between the formats, higher intrusion rates and total inaccuracy were found in meal format interviews than in open format interviews. Interview format influences childrens dietary reporting accuracy; in particular, providing meal cues elevates false reports. These analyses exemplify the importance of treating omissions and intrusions separately when examining reporting performance.