Eileen R Fowles1, Breine Gentry. 1. School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin, Texas 78701-1499, USA. efowles@mail.nur.utexas.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the feasibility of using personal digital assistant (PDA)-based technology for tracking and analysis of food intake in low-income pregnant women. DESIGN: Descriptive. Participants provided an initial 24-hour dietary recall and recorded their food intake using a PDA-based software program for 2 days. SETTING: Recruitment occurred during the prenatal intake visit at a health department-sponsored Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Nonprobability sampling was used to recruit 10 women. VARIABLE MEASURED: Demographics and a satisfaction rating scale for the 2 food recording methods. A Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was calculated for each food record. ANALYSIS: Scores of the satisfaction rating scales were summarized. Paired t tests were used to analyze differences in HEIs obtained from the participants' 24-hour recall and PDA-based food records. RESULTS: The PDA was significantly easier to use compared to the 24-hour recall, and no significant differences in ease of remembering food intake between these methods was noted. Most women liked the PDA and felt it was more accurate than 24-hour recalls. Results showed no significant difference in mean HEI scores between food records from 24-hour recall to PDA. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: PDA-based software may be an acceptable method for obtaining food records to provide more accurate assessments of dietary intake in this vulnerable population.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the feasibility of using personal digital assistant (PDA)-based technology for tracking and analysis of food intake in low-income pregnant women. DESIGN: Descriptive. Participants provided an initial 24-hour dietary recall and recorded their food intake using a PDA-based software program for 2 days. SETTING: Recruitment occurred during the prenatal intake visit at a health department-sponsored Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Nonprobability sampling was used to recruit 10 women. VARIABLE MEASURED: Demographics and a satisfaction rating scale for the 2 food recording methods. A Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was calculated for each food record. ANALYSIS: Scores of the satisfaction rating scales were summarized. Paired t tests were used to analyze differences in HEIs obtained from the participants' 24-hour recall and PDA-based food records. RESULTS: The PDA was significantly easier to use compared to the 24-hour recall, and no significant differences in ease of remembering food intake between these methods was noted. Most women liked the PDA and felt it was more accurate than 24-hour recalls. Results showed no significant difference in mean HEI scores between food records from 24-hour recall to PDA. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: PDA-based software may be an acceptable method for obtaining food records to provide more accurate assessments of dietary intake in this vulnerable population.
Authors: Theresa A Nicklas; Carol E O'Neil; Janice Stuff; Lora Suzanne Goodell; Yan Liu; Corby K Martin Journal: J Nutr Educ Behav Date: 2012-06-23 Impact factor: 3.045