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Monitoring of dietary changes by telephone interviews: results from Denmark

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Jóhanna Haraldsdóttir ,
Lotte Holm ,
Arne Vernon Astrup ,
Jytte Halkjær  and
Steen Stender
Jóhanna Haraldsdóttir*
Affiliation:
Research Department of Human Nutrition, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Rolighedsvej 30, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
Lotte Holm
Affiliation:
Research Department of Human Nutrition, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Rolighedsvej 30, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark Danish Nutrition Council, Sydmarken 32D, DK-2860 Søborg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
Arne Vernon Astrup
Affiliation:
Research Department of Human Nutrition, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Rolighedsvej 30, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark Danish Nutrition Council, Sydmarken 32D, DK-2860 Søborg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
Jytte Halkjær
Affiliation:
Research Department of Human Nutrition, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Rolighedsvej 30, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
Steen Stender
Affiliation:
Danish Nutrition Council, Sydmarken 32D, DK-2860 Søborg C, Copenhagen, Denmark Gentofte Hospital, Niels Andersensvej 65, DK-2900 Hellerup, Copenhagen, Denmark
*
*Corresponding author: Email jha@kvl.dk
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Abstract

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Objectives:

To monitor trends in Danish food habits with respect to selected key elements, from 1995 to 1998, and to evaluate the appropriateness of the method developed for that purpose.

Design and method:

Two cross-sectional population surveys, in 1995 and 1998. Data collection by computer-assisted telephone interviews including 10 food-frequency questions, questions on type of fat used on sandwiches and drinking milk, and check questions on the previous day. Reproducibility was tested in a subgroup (n=222) in the 1998 survey.

Setting:

The Danish Nutrition Council initiated the survey.

Subjects:

Men and women aged 15–90 years, 1007 in 1995 and 1024 in 1998. Samples of private telephone numbers were drawn from regional telephone registers, geographically stratified. Participation rates were 62%.

Results:

Significant differences were observed between 1995 and 1998, some of these in accordance with dietary guidelines (decreased use of whole milk and fat spread on bread, increased use of skimmed milk, salad vegetables, rice/pasta and fish). Other changes were opposite to dietary guidelines (increased use of soft butter, decreased use of soft margarine and low-fat spreads, potatoes, and fresh fruit). Differences in average consumption frequency amounted to 4–13%. Several results were confirmed by comparison with other data, and the reproducibility of the method was acceptable. Data were suitable for analysis of food use patterns, a relevant approach when assessing food habits in a lifestyle context.

Conclusions:

The changes observed illustrate the dynamics of food habits and the need for frequent monitoring. This simple telephone method may be a valuable tool for that purpose, as a supplement to national dietary surveys, also in a public health context.

Keywords

Food habitsDietary changesTelephone interviewsFood frequenciesPopulation surveillance
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 4 , Issue 6 , December 2001 , pp. 1287 - 1295
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2001

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