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Background: The present study describes the development and formative evaluation of the Web-based Dietary Assessment Software for Children (WebDASC). WebDASC is part of the OPUS project ('Optimal well-being, development and health for Danish children through a healthy New Nordic Diet') and was intended to measure dietary change resulting from a school-based intervention. Methods: WebDASC was developed as a self-administered tool that could be used by 8-11-year-old children with or without parent's aid. The development of WebDASC followed a prototyping approach: focus groups, informal interviews, literature review, and usability tests preceded its release. Special consideration was given to age-appropriate design issues. Results: In WebDASC an animated armadillo guides respondents through six daily eating occasions and helps them report foods and beverages previously consumed. A database of 1300 food items is available either through category browse or free text search, aided by a spell check application. A type-in format is available for foods not otherwise found through category browse or text search. Amount consumed is estimated by selecting the closest portion size among four different digital images. WebDASC includes internal checks for frequently forgotten foods, and the following features to create motivation: a food-meter displaying cumulative weight of foods reported, a most popular food ranking, and a computer game with a high score list. Conclusions: WebDASC was developed as an intuitive, cost-effective, and engaging method to collect detailed dietary data from 8- to 11-year-old children. Preliminary testing demonstrated that it was well accepted among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Food Intake Recording Software System, version 4 ( firsst 4), is a web-based 24-h dietary recall (24 hdr) self-administered by children based on the Automated Self-Administered 24-h recall (ASA24) (a self-administered 24 hdr for adults). The food choices in firsst 4 are abbreviated to include only those reported by children in US national surveys; and detailed food probe questions are simplified to exclude those that children could not be expected to answer (e.g. questions regarding food preparation and added fats). ASA24 and firsst 4 incorporate 10 000+ food images, with up to eight images per food, to assist in portion size estimation. We review the formative research conducted during the development of firsst 4. When completed, firsst 4 will be hosted and maintained for investigator use on the National Cancer Institute's ASA24 website. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Accurate, reliable and feasible methods of dietary intake and physical activity assessment are required to improve our understanding of the associations between energy balance-related behaviours and health. Methods The Synchronised Nutrition and Activity Program ( SNAP™) was developed to enhance recall in children by integrating new and established methods of dietary intake and physical activity recall. A list of commonly consumed foods ( n = 40), drinks ( n = 9) and physical activities ( n = 29) was used in SNAP™. All foods and drinks were analysed by count (i.e. the number of times a particular food was selected), as a proxy indicator of dietary behaviours. All reported physical activities were assigned an intensity code [in metabolic equivalents (METs)] to determine minutes of moderate-vigorous activity ( MVPA; ≥3 METs). Results Most participants completed a whole day's recall (both dietary intake and physical activities) in less than 25 min. SNAP™ was compared against 24-h multiple pass questionnaire and accelerometry in 121 children (aged 7-15 years old). For dietary variables, the accuracy of SNAP™ (mean difference) was within ±1 count for the majority of food groups. The proportion of the sample with a between-method agreement within ±1 count ranged from 0.40 to 0.99. For MVPA, there was no substantial fixed or proportional bias, with a mean difference between methods ( SNAP™ - accelerometry) of −9 min of MVPA. Qualitatively, participants have indicated that they find SNAP™ easy and fun to use. Conclusions SNAP™ was developed to be a simple, quick and engaging method of assessing energy balance-related behaviours at a group or population level and succeeded because it can collect a whole day's recall (dietary intake and physical activities) in less than 25 min to a reasonable and acceptable degree of accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The increased availability of computers and the efficiency and user-acceptability of computer-assisted questioning have increased the attractiveness of computer-administered querying for large-scale population nutrition research during the last decade. The Young Adolescents' Nutrition Assessment on Computer ( YANA- C), a computer-based 24-h dietary recall, was originally developed to collect dietary data among Belgian- Flemish adolescents. A web-based version was created to collect parentally reported dietary data of preschoolers, called Young Children's Nutrition Assessment on the Web ( YCNA- W), which has been improved and adapted for use in young adolescents: Children and Adolescents' Nutrition Assessment and Advice on the Web ( CANAA- W). The present study describes recent developments and the formative evaluation of the dietary assessment component. Methods A feasibility questionnaire was completed by 131 children [mean (SD) age: 11.3 (0.7) years] and 53 parents. Eight focus groups were held with children ( n = 65) and three with parents ( n = 17). Results Children (C) and parents (P) found the instrument clear ( C: 97%; P: 94%), comprehensible ( C: 92%; P: 100%), attractive ( C: 84%; P: 85%), fun ( C: 93%; P: 83%) and easy to complete ( C: 91%; P: 83%). There was ample explanation ( C: 95%; P: 94%); the pictures were clear ( C: 97%; P: 96%); and most respondents found the food items easy to find ( C: 71%, P: 85%). The results helped to refine the lay out and structure of the instrument and the list of food items included. Conclusions Children and parents were enthusiastic. The major challenge will be to convince parents who are less interested in dietary intake and less computer literate to participate in this type of study. Children in this age group (11-12 years) should complete the instrument with assistance from an adult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]