DIETARY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM FOR ETHNIC POPULATIONS

THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR ETHNIC POPULATIONS, UTILIZING COMPUTER AND CD-ROM TECHNOLOGY. THE SYSTEM WILL IMPROVE UPON CONVENTIONAL DIETARY ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY, ASSEMBLE NUTRIENT COMPOSITION DATA FOR ETTNIC FOODS, AND ELIMINATE LANGUAGE BARRIERS. RESPONDENTS SELF-REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE COMPUTER IN AN UNINTIMIDATING, ENJOYABLE MANNER, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF VALID REPORTING. THE SOFTWARE FEATURES DETAILED FULL-COLOR VIDEO DISPLAYS OF FOOD GROUPINGS AND INDIVIDUAL FOODS. AUDIO MESSAGES WILL BE ADDED TO PROVIDE PROMPTS AND INSTRUCTIONS. INSTRUCTIONS, FOOD NAMES, AND COOKING METHODS ARE PRESENTED BOTH VISUALLY AND IN BILINGUAL TEXT AND AUDIO MESSAGE. THE INCORPORATION OF A NUTRIENT DATABASE OF ETHNIC FOODS DIRECTLY INTO SOFTWARE ELIMINATES THE TIME CONSUMING AND TEDIOUS PROCESS OF CODING. SPECIFICALLY, IN PHASE I, THE INVESTIGATORS DEVELOPED A PROTOTYPE PROGRAM WITH A PICTORIAL NUTRIENT DATABASE FOR HISPANIC USE. IN PHASE II, THE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM WILL BE FULLY DEVELOPED AND TESTED AMONG THREE MAJOR HISPANIC GROUPS--MEXICANS, PUERTO RICANS AND CUBAN AMERICANS.