Total Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake Among US Adults Was Lower When Measured Using a 1-Question Versus 4-Question Screener.

Purpose: To compare the performance of a 1-question survey screener measuring total sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake to a screener measuring SSB types separately using 4 questions.
Design: Cross-sectional.
Setting: Web-based 2014 SummerStyles survey.
Participants: A total of 4167 US adults (≥18 years).
Measures: Frequency of SSB intake measured using a 1-question screener was compared to frequency using a 4-question screener (regular soda, fruit drinks, sports/energy drinks, sweetened coffee/tea). SSB intake (number of time/day) was categorized as 0, >0 to <1, and ≥1 time/day; difference in mean intake was calculated between 4 questions versus 1.
Analysis: Paired t tests were used, and agreement was evaluated using weighted κ and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC).
Results: Mean SSB intake was 1.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.65-1.79) times/day using 4 questions and 0.6 (95% CI: 0.56-0.62) times/day using 1 question ( P < .001). Intake frequency based on 4 questions versus 1 was 16.0% versus 38.5% for 0 time/day, 15.6% versus 42.5% for >0 to <1 time/day, and 68.4% versus 18.9% for ≥1 time/day. There was fair agreement for the 3 SSB intake categories (κ: .27) and poor absolute agreement between the 2 continuous measures (Lin's CCC: 0.31).
Conclusion: Daily SSB intake was significantly lower using a 1-question screener versus a 4-question screener. Researchers should assess SSB types separately or consider that daily SSB intake is likely underestimated with 1 question.