The Feasibility of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to Collect Dietary Intake Data in Low-income Pregnant Women
Abstract
Objectives
To determine the feasibility of using personal digital assistant (PDA)-based technology for tracking and analysis of food intake in low-income pregnant women.
Design
Descriptive. Participants provided an initial 24-hour dietary recall and recorded their food intake using a PDA-based software program for 2 days.
Setting
Recruitment occurred during the prenatal intake visit at a health department-sponsored Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinic.
Participants
Nonprobability sampling was used to recruit 10 women.
Variable Measured
Demographics and a satisfaction rating scale for the 2 food recording methods. A Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was calculated for each food record.
Analysis
Scores of the satisfaction rating scales were summarized. Paired t tests were used to analyze differences in HEIs obtained from the participants' 24-hour recall and PDA-based food records.
Results
The PDA was significantly easier to use compared to the 24-hour recall, and no significant differences in ease of remembering food intake between these methods was noted. Most women liked the PDA and felt it was more accurate than 24-hour recalls. Results showed no significant difference in mean HEI scores between food records from 24-hour recall to PDA.
Conclusions and Implications
PDA-based software may be an acceptable method for obtaining food records to provide more accurate assessments of dietary intake in this vulnerable population.
1School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin, Texas
2Order of Saint Francis Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois
Address for correspondence: Eileen R. Fowles, PhD, RNC, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin, 1700 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701-1499; Phone: (512) 232-5788; Fax: (512) 475-9179
This study was funded by a University Research Grant from Illinois State University. The work was conducted while the first author was employed by the Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois.
ABSTRACT