Evaluation of a dietary screener: The Mediterranean Eating Pattern for Americans tool

Authors

L. A. Cerwinske, Rush University Medical Center
Heather Rasmussen, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
S. Lipson, Rush University Medical Center
A. S. Volgman, Rush University Medical Center
Christy C. Tangney, Rush University Medical CenterFollow

Date of this Version

2017

Citation

Cerwinske L.A., Rasmussen H.E., Lipson S., Volgman A.S. & Tangney C.C. (2017) Evaluation of a dietary screener: the Mediterranean Eating Pattern for Americans tool. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 30, pp 596–603.

doi:10.1111/jhn.12451

Comments

Copyright © 2017 The British Dietetic Association Ltd. Used by permission.

Abstract

Background: Evidence exists for an association between accordance with a Mediterranean diet pattern and slower rates of cognitive decline. However, an ‘Americanized’ version of the Mediterranean diet screener is needed to assess accordance in the USA. Thus, the Mediterranean Eating Pattern for Americans (MEPA) tool was developed to assess accordance with a Mediterranean-like food pattern when time is limited. The present study aimed to determine whether the MEPA screener captured the key elements of the Mediterranean diet compared to the more comprehensive food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

Methods: The study comprised a cross-sectional study in which 70 women completed both the VioScreen™ FFQ (Viocare, Princeton, NJ, USA) electronically and the 16-item MEPA screener, either electronically or by telephone, aiming to evaluate the inter-method reliability of the proposed screener. The convenience sample included patients (n = 49) and healthcare providers (n = 21) recruited from a tertiary care medical center.

Results: The overall score from the MEPA screener correlated with corresponding overall MEPA FFQ score (ρ = 0.365, P = 0.002). Agreement between screener items and FFQ items was moderate-to-good for berries (κ = 0.47, P < 0.001), nuts (κ = 0.42, P < 0.001), fish (κ = 0.62, P < 0.001) and alcohol (κ = 0.64, P < 0.001), whereas those for olive oil (κ = 0.33, P = 0.001) and green leafy vegetables (κ = 0.36, P = 0.0021) were fair. Usual intakes of potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, saturated fat, selected carotenoids, folate and fiber derived from the FFQ varied with MEPA screener scores in the anticipated directions.

Conclusions: The MEPA screener captures several components of the Mediterranean style pattern, although further testing of the MEPA screener is indicated.