Cross-cultural adaptation and reproducibility of the EPIC-Norfolk food frequency questionnaire in young people living in Croatia.
Croatian medical journal 2024 ; 65: 20-29.
Davidović Cvetko E, Drenjančević I, Jukić I, Stupin A, Šušnjara P, Vulin M, Kos M, Lukic M, Stanojević L
DOI : 10.3325/cmj.2024.65.20
PubMed ID : 38433509
PMCID : PMC10915767
URL : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10915767/
Abstract
To translate and adapt the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for use in Croatia, and to assess the reliability and reproducibility of the Croatian version of the EPIC-Norfolk FFQ.
Translation and cross-cultural adaptation were performed according to published recommendations. Reliability was assessed in 140 respondents (61 men; age range 8-40 years) divided into three groups: young adults, pregnant women, and children and adolescents. Reproducibility was assessed in the group of young adults (32/61 men), who completed the questionnaire on two occasions three months apart.
The EPIC-Norfolk FFQ showed good reliability (Cronbach alpha=0.874). Most nutrient intakes showed good reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] between 0.7 and 0.9). Poor reproducibility was observed for alcohol (ICC=0.337), and moderate reproducibility was observed for beta-carotene (ICC=0.692) and total carbohydrates (ICC=0.698). Nutrient intakes measured by FFQ on two occasions did not significantly differ.
The Croatian version of the EPIC-Norfolk FFQ can be a useful tool for assessing dietary intakes in young people in Croatia and possibly in neighboring countries with similar languages and dietary habits.