The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59058

Lisa J Harnack, DrPH¹, Leslie A. Lytle, PhD RD¹, Mary Story, PhD RD¹, Deborah A. Galuska, PhD², Janet E. Fulton, PhD², David R Jacobs, PhD¹, Pamela Kelberer, MA¹, and Shujun Gao, MS¹. (1) Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, 1300 South Second Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, 612-626-9398, harnack@epi.umn.edu, (2) Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy., N.E, (Mailstop K26), Atlanta, GA 30341-3717

In response to the need for brief tools to assess calcium intake among preadolescent and adolescent children, a short (10 item) calcium intake assessment food frequency questionnaire was developed and validated. To identify foods for inclusion in the questionnaire, national dietary survey data were analyzed to identify the major food sources of calcium among middle-school aged children. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire was assessed in a sample of 257 children in an ethnically diverse middle school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. To assess reliability, the questionnaire was administered twice, with the second administration occurring approximately 7 days following the initial administration. To assess validity, three 24-hour dietary recalls were collected from each child following the second administration of the questionnaire. The correlation between calcium intake estimates derived from the first and second administration of the questionnaire was 0.71. The mean calcium intake estimate from the questionnaire was 1015.1 mg/day (SD 739.4) and the estimate for the 24-hour dietary recalls was 984.4 mg/day (SD 498.1) (p=0.48). The correlation between calcium intake estimates derived from the questionnaire and the average of the 24-hour dietary recalls was 0.41. Where a brief instrument to assess dietary calcium intake among middle school aged children is needed, findings suggest the questionnaire developed and validated in this study may be useful.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session the participant will be able to discuss the strengths and limitations of a brief calcium intake assessment tool developed for use with middle school aged children.

Keywords: Dietary Assessment, Child/Adolescent

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.