ARS | Publication request: VALIDITY OF A TELEPHONE-ADMINISTERED 24-HOUR DIETARY RECALL IN TELEPHONE AND NON-TELEPHONE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE RURAL LOWER MISSISSIPPI DELTA REGION

Submitted to: Journal Of The American Dietetic Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: August 1, 1999
Publication Date: February 1, 2001

Interpretive Summary: Dietary assessment is essential to understand the relationship between diet and health. The 24-hour dietary recall method yields useful estimates of mean intakes of nutrients for groups of individuals. Most researchers recommend in-person administered 24-hour dietary recalls. In- person administered dietary recalls creates logistical problems in rural areas such as the Delta of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. During 1997-98 we conducted a study to determine if 24-hour dietary recall of food intake is influenced by whether the information were collected by telephone or in-person interviews in telephone and non-telephone households in the rural Delta of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Telephone and non-telephone households were interviewed in-person or by telephone; telephone interviews in non-telephone households were completed with the aid of cellular telephones. A total of 409 individuals were interviewed for 24-hour dietary recalls by telephone or in-person. Food intake by individuals in telephone and non-telephone households, interviewed in-person or by telephone, were reported not to be different. The present study demonstrates that telephone-conducted 24-hour dietary recall interview is a valid method for collection of 24-hour recall of food intake information in the rural Delta of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. This information is important to scientists wanting to collect food intake recall information in telephone-served convenient and hard-to-reach populations.

Technical Abstract: We conducted a study to determine if 24-hour dietary recall data is influenced by whether the data were collected by telephone or face-to- face in telephone and non-telephone households in the rural Delta of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi during 1997-98. The design was a dual sampling frame. Each household type (telephone and non-telephone) contained 2 groups: one completed a 24-hour dietary recall by telephone or cellular telephone interview; the other, by face-to-face interview. In all, 409 subjects completed these recalls, administered by multiple-pass methodology. Statistical analyses were pairwise comparisons between 2 groups. The sample size was designed to detect a difference of 0.5 SD for energy or protein, with a power of 0.90 (Type II error, 0.10). No statistically significant differences were detected for mean energy or protein intake; between telephone and face-to-face interviews either in telephone and non-telephone households; or between telephone and non- telephone households controlling for type of interview. Findings persisted when adjusted for gender, age, and body mass index. These data support the hypothesis that telephone surveys adequately describe energy and protein intakes for a rural, low-income population.