Table 4 Summary of FFQs and their characteristics
Authors/Study | Type/# items | Purpose | Population | Ref. period | Mode | Categories | Portion estimated? (Yes/No) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adults | |||||||
Esteve et al. [40] | Semi-quantitative dietary questionnaire | Test association between diet and cancers of the larynx and hypopharynx | Adults Age range not reported | 12 months | Face-to-face interview | Structured by meals, i.e., breakfast, lunch, dinner, as well as early morning, mid-morning, mid-afternoon and late evening snacks | Yes. Assessed separately. Usual portion size estimated during interview |
Semi-quantitative FFQ # not reported | Test association of food habit with good health | Adults/Elderly 70+ years | 12 months | Face-to-face interview | 3 categories Ranging from daily to weekly and monthly | Yes Assessed in line Portion sizes were specified in units thought to be the most appropriate for the given food | |
Semi-quantitative Web-based 157-item FFQ. | Determine impact of personalised dietary advice on eating patterns and health outcomes | Adults 18–79 years | Previous month | Self-administered | 9 categories. Ranging from ‘Never or less than once a month’, to ‘5–6 times per day’, and ‘> 6 times per day’ | Yes 3 photographs representing small, medium, and large portions. Participants could select one of the following options: very small, small, small/medium, medium, medium/large, large, or very large which were linked electronically to portion sizes (in grams) | |
HAPIEE [45] | Semi-quantitative Czech = 136-item FFQ Russian = 147-item FFQ Polish = 148-item FFQ | Test association between socio-economic indicators and diet | Adults 45–69 years | Previous three months | Interview (Russia & Poland) Self-administered. (Czech Republic) | 9 categories. Ranging from ‘Never’ to ‘Six or more times per day’ Open-ended section where they could add any further foods not listed | Yes Assessed in-line A country-specific portion size for each food was specified Participants were asked how often, on average, they had consumed a ‘medium serving’ of the items – defined as about 100 g or 50 g depending on the food in question |
Semi-quantitative 322- item EPIC-Italy FFQ (as above) EPIC-UK FFQ (as above) | Identify determinants (diet, genetic) of risk of myocardial infarction Determine role of dietary patterns in plasma and red blood cell fatty acids variation | Adults 26–65 years | 12 months | Self-administered | 9 categories. Ranging from ‘Never/rarely’; ‘1–3 days/month’ to ‘1,2,3,4,5,6,7 days per week’ | Yes Assessed separately Recorded as absolute weights or as household measurements Photo book to estimate small, average, and large portions for spreads, bread spreads, and milk in coffee and tea | |
Semi-quantitative FFQ (country-specific) [Long Polish FFQ = 153-item [Short Polish FFQ = 134-item] | Examine the impact of societal influences on chronic non-communicable diseases | Adults 30–70 years | 12 months | Self-administered | [based on copy of Polish questionnaire] 9 categories: Ranging from ‘Never’ to ‘> 6/day’ | [based on copy of Polish questionnaire] Yes Assessed in-line Participants asked to report frequency of consumption of an average portion e.g. in case of ‘Butter’ (2 heaped Tbs), ‘Margarine’ (1 Tsp) | |
Children | |||||||
Non-quantitative. 43-item FFQ | Determine the aetiology of overweight, obesity and related disorders | Children 2–9 years (parents or guardians as proxies) | Typical week over the previous month | Self-administered | 8 categories. Ranging from ‘Never/less than once a week’ to ‘4 or more times per day’. ‘I have no idea’ was also an option. | No. | |
Piqueras et al. [62] | Semi-quantitative FFQ # items not reported | Examine association of dietary habits and child size | Children 4 years | Not reported | Self-administered | Not reported | Yes. FFQ described portion size for adults but they used portion sizes appropriate for children as informed by diet record data collected for similar aged children in the UK |