JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

My E-Diary for Activities and Lifestyle (MEDAL) is a web-based time-use diary developed to assess the diet and movement behaviour of Asian school children.

Objective:

This study aimed to determine the reliability of MEDAL in assessing the dietary intakes of Malaysian school children, with photographs of the children’s meals, taken by their parents, as an objective reference.

Methods:

A total of 46 children, aged 10-11 years, recorded their daily meals in MEDAL for four days (2 weekdays and 2 weekend days). Their parents took photographs of the meals and snacks before and after consumption during the four-day period. The reliability of the children’s reports of the food they had consumed was determined by comparing their MEDAL reports to the photographs of the food taken by their parents.

Results:

Overall, match, omission, and intrusion rates were 62%, 39%, and 20%, respectively. Carbohydrate-based items from “Rice and porridge”, “Breads, spreads, and cereals”, and “Noodles, pasta, and potatoes” food categories were reported most accurately (total match rates 68% – 76%). “Snack and dessert” items were omitted most often (omission rates 54%). Side dishes from the “Vegetables and mushroom”, “Eggs and tofu”, “Meat and fish”, and “Curry” food groups were also often omitted (omission rates (42% – 46%). Items from the “Milk, cheese and yogurt”, “Snacks and desserts”, and “Drinks” groups were intruded most often (intrusion rates 37% - 46%). Compared to boys, the girls reported more matches (69% vs. 53%) and omitted fewer items (31% vs. 49%).

Conclusions:

In conclusion, children aged 10-11 years can self-report all their meals in MEDAL, although some items are omitted and intruded. Therefore, MEDAL is a tool which can be used to assess the dietary intakes of Malaysian school children.