Cost-effectiveness of follow-up contact for a postal survey: a randomised controlled trial

Objective: This study examines the effectiveness and costs of follow‐up phone calls in improving response rates to a community survey. Methods: Non‐responders to a postal survey were randomly allocated to receive a phone call or no phone call. The resources used for the development and implementation of the survey were documented. The response rates and cost per level of follow‐up contact examined. Results: Follow‐up phone calls led to a statistical significant increase in the number of responses to a community‐wide survey, relative to no phone call. This relative increase in responses (n=62 for the follow‐up phone call group versus n=1 for controls), did not increase the absolute survey response rate sufficiently (from 38.5% for two mailed surveys to 39.8% for two mailed surveys plus a phone call) to justify the phone call costs. Scenario analyses show increasing the initial response rate by 10% and conducting a second mailed survey achieves greater marginal cost savings than increasing the response rate to the second mailout or the follow‐up phone calls. Conclusions: These results suggest a follow‐up phone call was not cost effective. Survey research ought to primarily focus on obtaining optimal initial response rates by using strategies identified in a Cochrane meta‐analytic review.     

Impact of an intervention to improve contraceptive use through follow-up phone calls to female adolescent clinic patients

CONTEXT: Adolescent females often have questions or concerns about their contraceptive methods, and they may discontinue use if these questions are not answered. Little evidence exists on whether follow‐up phone calls to address young women’s concerns can help sustain contraceptive use. METHODS: Between 2005 and 2007, a total of 805 females aged 14–18 attending a reproductive health clinic in San Francisco were randomly assigned to receive either regular clinic services or regular clinic services plus nine follow‐up phone calls over 12 months. The young women were surveyed at baseline and roughly six, 12 and 18 months later to measure condom and contraceptive use, rates of pregnancy and STDs, and other outcomes and mediators. Multiple linear and logistic regression repeated measures analyses were used to assess the program’s effects. RESULTS: Clinic counselors completed only 2.7 calls per patient, and made 7.8 attempts for every completed call. Although contraceptive use increased from baseline to follow‐up at six months in both groups, levels of condom and contraceptive use, and rates of pregnancy and STDs, did not differ between the intervention and control groups at any of the follow‐up assessments. Moreover, the intervention did not improve clinic utilization or satisfaction or have consistent positive effects on participants' attitudes. CONCLUSIONS: Reaching young women by phone after a clinic visit for contraception is challenging and does not appear to provide significant benefits beyond those provided by basic clinic services. More intensive interventions may be needed to markedly change adolescent sexual and contraceptive behavior.     

Children's nutritional intake as part of the Eat Well Do Well scheme in Kingston‐upon‐Hull – a pilot study

In April 2004 Hull City Council introduced free healthy school meals for all primary and special schools in an attempt to reduce health inequalities. This pilot study aimed to compare nutritional intake between those children consuming a free healthy school meal and those consuming a packed lunch brought from home. The study compared two schools from different socio‐economic areas and considered the impact of lunch on total daily food and nutrient intakes in these children. Fieldwork was undertaken over five consecutive days in each school. Seven hundred and thirty‐five lunches were weighed and photographed before and after consumption to assess actual food intake vs. wastage. One hundred and forty‐seven children aged 8‐to‐11‐years participated from two primary schools. Five‐day food diaries were completed by a small number of participants (n = 20) receiving school meals (n = 10) and packed lunches (n = 10) from the two schools selected. While the lunches provided at the two schools met the majority of the nutritional guidelines for school meals, children ate only a small amount, often leaving the potatoes and vegetables behind; therefore, their intakes were below recommended levels. Children from both schools who opted for packed lunch consumed significantly more energy, fat, sugar and sodium but with this more micronutrients than children who had a free healthy school meal. Statistical differences (P < 0.01) were found between the two schools, with children from the less affluent school consuming less food from the school meal and therefore obtaining a lower nutrient intake from lunch than children from the more affluent school. Findings from a small number of food diaries suggest that the differences in intakes between those having a school meal and those having a packed lunch were compensated for by other food consumed during the day, such that daily nutrient intakes were not significantly different. This study suggests that many children may not be consuming sufficient amounts of the food provided in schools. Therefore, it cannot be assumed that the provision of school meals that conform to the School Food Trust guidelines will be of nutritional benefit to all children concerned. Bearing this in mind, more needs to be done to provide menus that are both healthy and enjoyable for children, so that they will want to consume the foods provided. Parents also need more advice regarding how they can provide their children with a healthy packed lunch, possibly via the introduction of a government‐led packed lunch policy, particularly in schools from areas of lower socio‐economic status. Although there was only a small sample of food diaries in this study, the findings suggest that socio‐economic demographics may exert more of an influence on the total daily nutrient intake of children than the type of lunch consumed.     

Body mass,frequency of eating and breakfast consumption in 9–13‐year‐olds

Background: Unhealthy eating patterns in childhood can lead to adverse health conditions, particularly obesity. However, debate remains around the precise eating behaviours that lead to these conditions. The present study aimed to address this lack of evidence by reporting on the eating frequency, breakfast consumption and body mass index (BMI, kg m^–2) of youth in the UK. Methods: A total of 264 (133 boys and 131 girls) participants, aged 10–13 years, completed self‐report measures of dietary intake via 3‐day food/drink diaries (Friday to Sunday). Trained researchers recorded height and weight to calculate the BMI. Diaries were analysed using dietplan 6 nutritional analysis software (Forestfield Software, Horsham, UK) and multivariate linear regression was used to examine any association between breakfast consumption, frequency of eating and BMI. Results: No relationship existed between BMI Z‐score, eating frequency and breakfast consumption. However, frequent breakfast consumers had significantly lower mean (SD) BMI Z‐scores [0.18 (1.06) versus 0.57 (1.23)] and higher intakes of iron, calcium and vitamin E than those who did not eat breakfast regularly. Those aged ≥11 years consumed breakfast less frequently [0.92 (0.20)] and were less likely to eat regularly [4.6 (1.4)] than those aged ≤10 years. Conclusions: Older boys were the least likely to eat regularly and the least likely to consume breakfast. Promoting the importance of regular eating, particularly breakfast consumption to these boys, may be essential to ensure healthier, long‐term eating patterns. Furthermore, the lower breakfast intakes in 11–13‐year‐olds and higher BMI Z‐scores of those who did not eat breakfast regularly should be monitored.     

Food intake patterns among Australian adolescents

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the food intake patterns of adolescents with respect to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, and to examine variations in food intake patterns by age, gender and region of residence. DESIGN: Cross-sectional online food survey administered through schools. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: In 2004-2005, 3841 secondary students in years seven (12-13 years) and nine (14-15 years) drawn from 37 secondary schools in Victoria, Australia completed an online food intake patterns survey. OUTCOME MEASURES: Food intake was measured by a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and categorized according to the five basic food groups (fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, cereal) and the 'extra' food group as defined by the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE). The foods groups were examined in the study population and compared across age, gender and region. RESULTS: Many adolescents in this sample reported food intakes that deviated substantially from recommendations of the AGHE. For example, two-thirds of participants failed to consume foods from the five recommended food groups daily; over a third reported eating fruit 'rarely or never'; and 22% reported eating fast foods every day. Food intakes were generally more in line with dietary guidelines among girls than boys. Regional differences were less consistent, and there were few differences by age. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of adolescents have food intakes that fall short of the recommendations outlined in the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. This highlights the need for public health initiatives to promote healthier food intake patterns among adolescents.     

The use of mobile phones in dietary assessment in young people with Type 1 diabetes

Background: Food is often a contentious issue for people with diabetes (Nutrition Sub‐Committee of Diabetes Care Advisory Committee of the UK, 2003) and being an adolescent with Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) can be extremely challenging (Cartwright et al., 2003). Tailoring interventions to engage with adolescents is essential for maintaining an effective and productive relationship with the healthcare team (Hampson et al., 2000). The use of modern technology, such as mobile phone cameras, may be a way of engaging with this client group. Food diaries are routinely used for dietary assessment in this group, although there may be difficulties with patient recall, establishing portion sizes and compliance with completion (Tefft & Boniface, 2000). This study aimed to assess the effect of mobile phones in dietary assessment in adolescents with T1DM. Methods: Fifteen adolescent patients with T1DM attending the Tayside Paediatric Diabetic Clinics were recruited. Participants were asked to complete food diaries for 4 days and to photograph (using the mobile phones provided) all food and drink consumed during that period. Photographs were downloaded to a computer using Bluetooth technology®. A dietitian estimated portion sizes from the diaries and photographs. The number of items ovn each day for each method was recorded. Dietary intake information was analysed for total energy intake and percent energy from carbohydrate, fat and protein using the dietary analysis package Dietplan 6 (Forestfield Software Ltd, Horsham, West Sussex, UK). Dietary recommendations for this client group (Hanas et al., 2006) are shown in Table 1. The dietary analyses with and without the use of mobile phones were compared using paired Student's t‐tests. Results are expressed as mean (SD) and range, as appropriate. Results: Eight participants [14.3 (1.8) years; duration of diabetes 8.4 months–11.2 years; HbA1C 9.5% (2.0%)] returned completed diaries and full sets of photographs. No statistically significant differences were seen in the number of items recorded by using food diaries 27.8 (7.8) and mobile phones 24.2 (9.6). Dietary analysis of the food diaries is shown in Table 1; there were no significant differences between the two groups.

Table 1. The effect of photographs taken by mobile phone on the dietary analysis of food diaries [mean (SD)]

Effectiveness of using a behavioural intervention to improve dietary fibre intakes in children with constipation

Background: Functional constipation is common in childhood; diets in affluent industrialised countries may be a significant contributory factor as a result of inadequate fibre content. Only a few intervention studies have been reported where childhood constipation has been treated by increasing dietary fibre. The present study aimed to demonstrate that dietary fibre intakes of children with constipation can be increased using a specifically‐designed behaviour modification technique with a self‐monitoring and reward system. Methods: Forty‐three children, aged 2–14 years, with functional constipation (defined as less than three bowel movements per week with hard stools and difficulty or delay in defecation) were randomised to one of two treatment groups: Control (n = 20), receiving general advice on increasing dietary fibre intake, or Intervention (n = 23), using the intervention tool. Fibre intake, laxative use and stool frequency were assessed at baseline, and at 3, 6 and 12 months, using parent‐filled diaries. Results: A behavioural intervention method significantly increases the fibre intakes of children with constipation at 3 months compared to standard dietary treatment (P = 0.005), remaining so after adjusting for baseline fibre intake (P = 0.007). Follow‐up at 6 and 12 months showed no further increase. No significant benefit in terms of a reduction in laxative use or increased stool frequency associated with additional fibre intake was demonstrated. Conclusions: The findings confirm the difficulties encountered in beginning and maintaining high‐fibre diets in children.     

The influence of survey duration on estimates of food intakes and its relevance for public health nutrition and food safety issues

OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of food consumption survey duration on estimates of percentage consumers, mean total population intakes and intakes among consumers only and to consider its relevance for public health nutrition and food safety issues. DESIGN: Prospective food consumption survey. SETTING: A multicentre study in five centres in the European Union-Dublin, Ghent, Helsinki, Potsdam and Rome. SUBJECTS: Teenage subjects were recruited through schools; 948 (80%) out of 1180 subjects completed the survey. INTERVENTIONS: 14-day food diaries were used to collect the food consumption data. RESULTS: For mean total population intakes, 53% of the foods had slopes significantly different to 0 (P<0.05). In practical terms (g/day), these differences were small, with 41% of foods having differences of 相似文献   

Meat consumption among 18-month-old children participating in the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study

Objective: To document meat consumption among 18‐month‐old children, for use in refining population dietary assessment methods and dietary guidance for young children. Design: A secondary analysis of data collected in 1998–2000 from the 18 months follow up of the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study: an intervention trial of omega‐3 oil supplementation and house‐dust mite reduction, from birth to five years. Subjects and setting: Pregnant women whose unborn children had an atopic family history were recruited from antenatal clinics of six hospitals in western Sydney. Carers of 429 18‐month‐old children (80% response) satisfactorily completed three‐day weighed food records. Main outcome measures: Mean and median intakes per day and portion sizes of various meats and meat products. Statistical analyses: T‐tests for comparing gender differences; Pearson correlation and one‐way analysis of variance for relationships between meat and nutrient intake. Results: During the recording period 94% of the children ate meat. McDonald's Chicken McNuggets?, beef mince, and beef sausages were the most frequently consumed meats. Median portion sizes ranged from 20–50 g, and were considerably smaller than ‘usual’ portions specified on food frequency questionnaires in common use. Higher meat diets in this age group were not associated with higher intakes of iron or zinc per MJ. Conclusion: The marginally low intakes of iron and zinc in this age group could be improved by greater use of cuts of red meat appropriately prepared for toddlers.     

Most Australians do not meet recommendations for dairy consumption: findings of a new technique to analyse nutrition surveys

Objective: To describe the pattern of dairy consumption in Australians aged 12 years and over, and assess the extent to which the population meets national recommendations. Methods: We developed a new method of combining quantitative data from a 24‐hour dietary recall questionnaire with semiquantitative data from a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), to investigate the usual patterns of dairy consumption. We applied this technique to data from the 9,096 Australians aged 12 and over who completed the FFQ part of the most recent nationally representative nutrition study ? the 1995 National Nutrition Survey. Results: When weighted according to the characteristics of the Australian population, 58% of male and 73% of female FFQ respondents failed to regularly meet recommendations for consumption of dairy products. While mean dairy consumption was higher in adolescents, 62% of boys and 83% of girls failed to meet their higher recommendation of three serves per day. Breastfeeding women appeared to consume more dairy but 60% consumed less than two serves per day. Conclusions and Implications: Given accumulating evidence of protective effects of dairy foods for a range of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, our observations warrant a focus on the development of cost‐effective public health interventions to increase dairy consumption.     

Nutritional practices in full‐day‐care pre‐schools

Background: Full‐day‐care pre‐schools contribute significantly to the nutritional intake and acquisition of dietary habits of the pre‐school child. The present study investigated nutritional practices in full‐day‐care pre‐schools in Dublin, Ireland, aiming to determine the nutritional support that pre‐school managers deem necessary, thereby facilitating the amelioration of existing pre‐school nutritional training and practices. Methods: A telephone questionnaire completed by pre‐school managers (n = 54) examined pre‐school dietary practices, food provision and the association between these and pre‐school size, nutritional training attendance, possession of the Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Pre‐school Services and having a healthy eating policy. Nutritional training needs were also investigated. Results: Twenty‐five pre‐schools provided all food for attending children; parents were sole providers in six. Thirty‐four pre‐schools had a written healthy eating policy. Attendance at nutritional training was reported by 40. Possession of the Guidelines (n = 40) did not consistently result in their use. Poor parental and staff involvement in policy and menu development was cited. Although the delayed introduction of iron‐containing foods and a feeding beaker in infants was clearly evident, inappropriate beverages and snacks were served to children aged 1–5 years in 43 and 37 pre‐schools, respectively. Training priorities cited by managers included parental education and the provision of information regarding menu planning and healthy food choices. Conclusions: Nutritional training should advocate whole staff familiarity with and use of current guidelines, in addition to encouraging nutritional policy development and enforcement. Parental education is warranted. Dietary education should focus specifically on appropriate weaning practices, healthy beverage and snack provision and menu planning.     

Dietary intakes of European, Māori, Pacific and Asian adults living in Auckland: the Diabetes, Heart and Health Study

Objective: To compare dietary intakes of European, Māori, Pacific, and Asian men and women living in Auckland. Methods: Daily nutrient intakes were calculated from a self‐administered food frequency questionnaire from participants in a cross‐sectional health screening study carried out between 2002 and 2003. Participants were 4,007 Māori, Pacific, Asian and European people (1,915 men, 2,092 women) aged 35 to 74 years. Results: Compared with Europeans, Māori and Pacific men had higher total energy intakes per day, while Asians had lower intakes. A similar pattern was observed for carbohydrate and fat consumption. While protein and cholesterol consumption tended to be lower in Europeans than the other three ethnic groups, alcohol consumption and calcium intakes were highest among Europeans. Many of the differences between ethnic groups were attenuated when nutrient consumption was expressed as their percentage contribution to total energy intake suggesting that total food consumption was the major determinant of ethnic differences in nutrient intakes. Conclusions: There were substantial differences in dietary habits, food selections and cooking practices between European, Māori, Pacific and Asian participants. However, the observed differences were in the area of serving sizes and frequency of consumption of certain foods than to major differences in the range of foods and nutrients consumed or the percentage contribution of carbohydrate, fat or protein to total energy intake. Implications: The development of strategies to reduce serving sizes and the frequency of consumption of certain foods will be required to help address the major nutrition‐related health problems in New Zealand.     

Older fallers attended to by an ambulance but not transported to hospital: a vulnerable population at high risk of future falls

Objective : This prospective cohort study describes older non‐transported fallers seen by the Ambulance Service of New South Wales (ASNSW), quantifies the level of risk and identifies predictors of future falls and ambulance use. Methods : Participants were 262 people aged 70 years or older with a fall‐related ASNSW attendance who were not transported to an emergency department. They completed a questionnaire about health, medical and physical factors previously associated with falling. Falls were monitored for six months after ambulance attendance with monthly fall calendars. Results : Participants had a high prevalence of chronic medical conditions, functional limitations and past falls. During follow‐up, 145 participants (58%) experienced 488 falls. Significant predictors of falls during follow‐up were three or more falls in the past year, being unable to walk more than 10 minutes without resting, and requiring assistance for personal‐care activities of daily living (ADLs). Sixty‐two participants (25%) required repeat, fall‐related ambulance attendance during the study. Predictors of repeat ambulance use were: 3+ falls in past year, requiring assistance for personal‐care ADLs and having disabling pain in past month. Conclusions : Older, non‐transported fallers seen by the ASNSW are a vulnerable population with high rates of chronic health conditions. Implications : Onward referral for preventive interventions may reduce future falls and ambulance service calls.     

Home Nasogastric Feeds

Background: Home enteral nutrition (HEN) is a safe method for providing nutrition to children with chronic diseases. Advantages of HEN include shorter hospitalizations, lower cost, and decreased risk of malnutrition‐associated complications. Follow‐up after hospital discharge on HEN is limited. The purpose of this study was to look at children discharged on nasogastric (NG) feeds to assess follow‐up feeding status and impact on growth. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of pediatric patients discharged from Mount Sinai Medical Center on NG feeds between January 2010 and March 2013. Results: A total of 87 patients were included. Average age was 1.2 years. The most common diagnoses were congenital heart disease (47%), metabolic disease (17%), neurologic impairment (10%), liver disease (9%), prematurity (8%), and inflammatory bowel disease (6%). At most recent follow‐up, 44 (50.6%) were on full oral feeds, 8 (9.2%) were still on NG feeds, 9 (10.3%) had a gastrostomy tube placed, 9 (10.3%) were deceased, and 17 (19.5%) had transferred care or were lost to follow‐up. Average time to discontinuation of NG feeds was 4.8 months. Change in body mass index from hospital discharge to follow‐up visit 6 to 12 weeks after discharge was statistically significant, from a mean (SD) of 13.78 (2.82) to 14.58 (2.1) (P = .02). Change in weight z score was significant for neurologic impairment (?1.35 to ?0.04; P = .03). Height z score change was significant for prematurity (?3.84 to ?3.34; P = .02). There was no significant change in height or weight z scores for the other diagnoses. Conclusions: NG feeds can help to improve short‐term growth after hospital discharge in children with chronic illnesses.     

Food, health and eating among single homeless and marginalized people in London

Background: ‘Single homeless’ people are marginalized and largely dependent on voluntary sector organizations for food. The assessment of dietary quality in such groups is particularly difficult, but information is essential in order to improve provision. The aim of this study was to investigate dietary patterns and food sources of day centre and soup run users. Methods: A simple food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and 24-h dietary recall were completed on 423 participants (348 males and 75 females) through opportunistic sampling. ‘Rough sleepers’ made up 25% of the sample population, hostel dwellers 19%; other people classed as ‘homeless’ were in squats/bed and breakfast (B & B)/on a friend's floor (12%). Forty-three per cent of the sample had a flat or bedsit but were using day centres and soup runs because of financial difficulties. The age range was 15–76 years with a median of 34. Results: Only 28% ate vegetables daily; 60% seldom ate fruit, salad, fruit juice or wholemeal products. For men and women diets were high in saturated fat and nonmilk extrinsic sugar. Intakes of nonstarch polysaccharide, vitamins A, C, E, selenium, potassium and zinc were low. In addition, women had low intakes of protein, iron, folic acid, calcium, iodine and magnesium. Seventy per cent said they wanted to improve their diet. Conclusion: The survey showed that the majority of people using day centres and soup runs do not meet current dietary recommendations. This was a reflection of the foods provided and policies to support the work of day centres and soup runs need to address the quality of food available.     

Comparison of nutrient intake in adolescents and adults with and without food allergies

Background

Exclusion diets for the management of food allergy pose a risk of nutritional deficiencies and inadequate growth in children, yet less is known about their effect in adolescents and adults. The present study aimed to compare the dietary intake of adolescents and adults with food allergies with that of a control group.

Methods

A food allergic and a control group were recruited from Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight in the UK. Participants were recruited from a food allergy charity, allergy clinics, a local school and university, and previous research studies. Macro and micronutrient intake data were obtained using a 4‐day estimated food diary. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data was collected via a constructed questionnaire.

Results

This cross‐sectional study included 81 adolescents (48 food allergic and 33 controls) aged 11–18 years and 70 adults aged 19–65 years (23 food allergic and 47 controls). Overall, 19 (22.8%) adolescents and 19 (27.1%) adults took dietary supplements, with no difference according to food allergic status. Adolescents with food allergy had higher intakes of niacin and selenium than adolescents without (P < 0.05). This difference persisted when dietary supplements were removed from the analysis. Adults with food allergies had higher intakes of folate and zinc than those without (P < 0.05); however, this difference did not persist when dietary supplements were removed from the analysis. Across all participants, the intake of several micronutrients was suboptimal. There was no difference in protein or energy intake, or body mass index, according to food allergic status.

Conclusions

The dietary intake of food allergic participants was broadly similar and, in some cases, better than that of control participants. However, suboptimal intakes of several micronutrients were observed across all participants, suggesting poor food choices.

     

Relationships between sugar‐foods and the DMFT in 1968–1970

As shown in a sample of 2514 adolescent participants in the Ten‐State Nutrition Survey of The United States, there is a systematic relation between sugar‐food intakes and dental caries as shown by the DMFT index. Analyzed with respect to the DMFT, adolescents with high values of the DMFT reported sugar‐food ingestion ten times greater than did comparable adolescents with low DMFT values. Conversely, boys and girls and blacks and whites deemed high in sugar‐containing food intakes showed DMFT values approximately twice as high as in adolescents with low reported sugar‐food intakes. These findings attest to the practicability of investigating relationship between dietary habits and dental disease in mass‐data nutrition surveys.     

Estimating occupational health events in workers with asthma or diabetes: a comparison of diary and snapshot methods

The study was set up to assess the completeness of reporting different types of work-related health events through 6 month and 1 week diaries and telephone questionnaires relating to individual days. Subjects recruited from hospital asthma or diabetic clinics or from surgical day-case units were randomly assigned to either a full participation arm or to one completing only a 6 month diary. Of the 375 study participants, return rates were 68.8% for 6 month diaries, 81.9% for weekly diaries and 86.5% for researcher-administered questionnaires. Significantly higher rates of self-reported poor work performance, symptoms or changes in medication were estimated by snapshot methods (same-day telephone interviews or one-off weekly diaries) than from diaries completed over a 6 month period. Asthmatics and diabetics attending hospital outpatient clinics were no more likely, however, to report work-related health events in the following 6 months than those attending the same hospital for day surgery.     

Dietary intake of older patients in hospital and at home: The validity of patient kept food diaries

Objective: To investigate the validity of a patient kept food diary in relation to weighted intakes and to measure dietary intakes of older people both in hospital and after discharge at home.Design: A randomly selected cohort of hospitalised elderly patients was recruited. All patients were instructed how to keep a record of all food and drink consumed and any leftovers. Food diaries were kept for up to seven days in hospital and for seven days in the community. In 18 consecutive patients dietary records were compared with weighed intake.Setting: Associate Teaching Hospital, United Kingdom.Results: A total of 116 patients participated in the study (median age 77 years, range 66–86 yrs; 49 female). We found significant correlations between food diary and weighted macronutrient intakes both in hospital and in the community. Overall the food diary predicted within ±17% weighted energy intakes in 70% of individuals. Compared with the National Diet and Nutrition Survey for free-living elderly people in the UK (1998), we found more or less similar energy and micronutrient intakes in hospital, but lower intakes at home.Conclusion: Patients kept food diaries can be used to identify those at risk of undernutrition and monitor those on nutritional support. It can also be used for nutritional education and for achieving dietary goals.