Validation of a 10-item Questionnaire Measuring Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in 9-11 year old Children Living in Low-Income Households
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Many low-income children do not consume the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables (FV).For this reason, a primary objective of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) is to increase children's consumption of FV.To accurately measure dietary changes related to FV intake, validated assessment tools that are quick and easy to administer are needed; however, few such tools exist.Objective: To test a 10-item fruit and vegetable questionnaire (10-item FVQ) for criterion and convergent validity, sensitivity, test-re-test reliability, and internal consistency.Participants: The study took place among 9-11 year old children attending a SNAP-Ed-eligible elementary school.Four 3 rd grade and four 4 th grade classrooms were invited to participate.The study included 3 rd (n=46) and 4 th grade (n=40) participants, with the majority being white (93%). Main Outcome Measures: Criterion validity was assessed by comparing the totalscore on the 10-item FVQ to total servings of FV as reported on a single 24-hour dietary recall (24-HDR).Convergent validity analyzed the "variety" and "snack" constructs from the 10-item FVQ compared to variety and snack reference scores generated from the matched 24-HDR.Sensitivity of the 10-item FVQ was assessed by comparing scores iii pre-and post-a 4 lesson FV intervention to FV servings reported on the 24-HDR.Reliability was evaluated by administering the 10-item FVQ at two time points one week apart, pre-intervention, and internal consistency by analyzing scores on a single 10-item FVQ.Pearson correlation was used to assess criterion and convergent validity, and sensitivity.Reliability was measured using a pairwise t-test, intraclass correlation coefficient, and Cronbach's alpha.Results: Correlation between the total scores on the 10-item FVQ and 24-HDR was significant (r = 0.36, p < 0.005), in addition to the total variety (r = 0.306, p < 0.01) and total snack scores (r = 0.329, p < 0.01).Fruit as a snack (r = 0.322, p < 0.01) and variety of vegetables (r = 0.256, p < 0.05) demonstrated a moderately significant correlation to the 24-HDR reference scores.Sensitivity testing showed a moderately significant correlation of r = 0.287 (p < 0.05).Test-re-test reliability demonstrated agreement between repeated testing measures (r = 0.784, p < 0.0001) and internal consistency assessment yielded a Cronbach's alpha of 0.806 and a significant intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.775 (p < 0.001). Conclusions and Implications:Results from this study suggest that the 10-item FVQ is a valid and reliable measure of FV intake behaviors among 9-11 year old children.Further testing of the 10-item FVQ in a pre/post intervention design is needed to further investigate the questionnaire's sensitivity to detecting change, differences among gender, and use within various ethnic groups.Evidence from this study suggests the 10-item FVQ may be used as a short and easy to administer alternative to traditional Vita June 2010…………………..
Author: Laura Elizabeth Berger
Institution: The Ohio State University
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W814241671