Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of a food frequency
questionnaire (FFQ) among a convenience sample of healthy adults in Jordan. A modified
version of the questionnaire known as Diet History Questionnaire I, which measures
dietary intakes over a 1-year period, was administrated to 101 apparently healthy
men and women recruited from three large medical centers in Jordan. Fifty-five participants completed
the modified FFQ and three 24-hour recalls. Participants (N=101) completed the FFQ
two times separated by a 1-month period. Reliability of the FFQ was assessed using
test–retest method. Mean age of participants was 33.4±18.5 years. Energy, carbohydrate,
fiber, fat, saturated fat, calcium, and iron had deattenuated correlations of .732,
.563, .544, .487, .484, .451, and .459, respectively. The FFQ and 24-hour recalls
produced similar agreement percentages ranging between 25.5% and 43.6%. Mean energy-adjusted
reliability coefficients ranged from .695 to .943. A Cronbach's α for the total FFQ
items of .857 was found. The modified FFQ has reasonable relative validity and reliability
for energy, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, saturated fat, calcium, and iron intakes in
Jordanian adults over a 1-year period. However, its application may require additional
modifications and validation efforts. Future research is warranted to further modify
and test the FFQ in a larger and more diverse sample of Jordanians as well as to develop
FFQ for the use among other age groups.
Keywords
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Biography
R. F. Tayyem is an associate professor, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.
Biography
S. S. Abu-Mweis is an assistant professor, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.
Biography
L. Agraib is a research assistant, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.
Biography
K. Bani-Hani is a professor, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.
Biography
H. A. Bawadi is an associate professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Al Ramtha, Irbid, Jordan.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 12, 2013
Accepted:
August 13,
2013
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Supplementary materials: The Figure is available online at www.andjrnl.org.
FUNDING/SUPPORT This project was fully sponsored by the Higher Council of Science and Technology, Amman, Jordan.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
