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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #285227

Title: Relative validity of the geisinger rural aging study food frequency questionniare

Author
item MITCHELL, DIANE - Pennsylvania State University
item TUCKER, KATHERINE - Northeastern University
item MARAS, JANICE - Northwestern University
item LAWRENCE, FRANK - Pennsylvania State University
item SMICIKLAS-WRIGHT, HELEN - Pennsylvania State University
item JENSEN, GORDON - Pennsylvania State University
item STILL, CHRISTOPHER - Geisinger Medical Center
item HARTMAN, TERRYL - Pennsylvania State University

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/19/2011
Publication Date: 7/17/2012
Citation: Mitchell, D.C., Tucker, K.L., Maras, J., Lawrence, F.R., Smiciklas-Wright, H., Jensen, G.L., Still, C.D., Hartman, T.J. 2012. Relative validity of the geisinger rural aging study food frequency questionniare. Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging. 16(7):667-672.

Interpretive Summary: Valid population specific food frequency questionnaires are needed to assess nutrition risk in older adults residing in rural Pennsylvania. This research adapted and revised an existing food frequency questionnaire to reflect the diets of the Geisinger Rural Aging Study population and validated it using detailed 24 hour dietary recalls collected from the same population. The Geisinger Rural Aging Study food frequency questionnaire will identify and evaluate risk of nutrients that are of major concern in older adults residing throughout rural Pennsylvania.

Technical Abstract: Objective: To determine the relative validity of a population specific food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and evaluate the effectiveness of the instrument for assessing nutritional risk in older adults. Design: A cross-over design with participants completing two different dietary assessment instruments in random order. Setting: The Geisinger Rural Aging Study (GRAS), a longitudinal study of over 20,000 adults living in the central, northern and eastern counties of Pennsylvania. Participants: A subset of GRAS consisting of 245 older adults (60% women) ranging in age from 70 to 95 years. Measurements: Energy and nutrient intakes were assessed from two instruments: a population specific food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and four 24-hour dietary recalls conducted over a two week period. Results: Pearson correlation coefficients between the FFQ and dietary recalls ranged from 0.29 to 0.65 which suggests that the FFQ provided relatively valid estimates of all macro and micronutrient intakes examined. Bland-Altman plots were generated to examine the agreement between instruments for energy, folate and zinc. At the highest intakes of folate and zinc there was limited agreement for some individuals. The results also showed that the FFQ was able to correctly classify individuals adequately at risk (sensitivity) or not-at-risk (specificity) for most nutrients examined. Conclusion: The FFQ appears to be a valid instrument for use in monitoring nutrient intakes and in evaluating risk of most nutrients that are of particular concern in older adults residing throughout many predominately rural counties in Pennsylvania.