Reproducibility of a Semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire in Chaoshan Area, China

Objective: To examine reproducibility of assessed intake of foods and nutrients according to a semi-quantitativefood frequency questionnaire (SQFFQ) in adult doctors and nurses residing in Chaoshan area of China. Subjects:The SQFFQ was administered first in October to December of 2004 to 120 adult doctors and nurses living in Chaoshanarea of China and was then re-administered to 102 three months later between January and March of 2005 (SQFFQ1 and SQFFQ 2).
Methods: Reproducibility was evaluated in terms of consumption of 10 food groups and energyand 34 macro- and micro-nutrients based on the SQFFQ from the 102 doctors and nurses.
Results: For intake offoods, Pearson’s correlation coefficients (CCs) with log-transformation and energy adjustment (minimum – median- maximum) range from 0.43 (eggs) – 0.84 - 0.90 (teas). Spearman’s rank CCs with energy adjustment rangedfrom 0.77 (cereals) – 0.84 - 0.94 (milks). Kappa statistics with energy adjustment ranged from 0.53 (vegetables) -0.63 - 0.82 (teas). For consumption of nutrients, Pearson’s correlation coefficients (CCs) with log-transformationand energy adjustment (minimum – median - maximum) range from 0.83 (docosahexaenoic acid and oryzanin) -0.88 - 0.90 (linolenic acid, vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin E, calcium, sodium, selenium and magnesium). Spearman’srank CCs with energy adjustment ranged from 0.81 (oryzanin and vitamin C) – 0.86 – 0.90 (sodium). Kappastatistics with energy adjustment ranged from 0.49 (protein) - 0.60 - 0.77 (sodium).
Conclusion: Substantially highreproducibility was observed; it is possible to use the tailored, relatively simple, but comprehensive, self-administeredSQFFQ to facilitate assessment of the association between lifestyle and health/disease in large-scale epidemiologicalstudies.