The relative validity of the updated Menzies Remote Short-Item Dietary Assessment Tool (MRSDAT) for use with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adults

Abstract Background This study aimed to determine the relative validity of dietary quality index scores estimated using the updated version of the Menzies Remote Short-item Dietary Assessment Tool (MRSDAT), a food frequency questionnaire developed for use with remote Indigenous communities in Austra...

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Main Authors: Emma Tonkin, Ellie Chan, Caroline Deen, Bronwyn Fredericks, Morag Dhurrkay, Hasthi U. Dissayanake, J. Dhurrkay, George Gurruwiwi, Beverley-Ann Biggs, Julie Brimblecombe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23233-x
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author Emma Tonkin
Ellie Chan
Caroline Deen
Bronwyn Fredericks
Morag Dhurrkay
Hasthi U. Dissayanake
J. Dhurrkay
George Gurruwiwi
Beverley-Ann Biggs
Julie Brimblecombe
author_facet Emma Tonkin
Ellie Chan
Caroline Deen
Bronwyn Fredericks
Morag Dhurrkay
Hasthi U. Dissayanake
J. Dhurrkay
George Gurruwiwi
Beverley-Ann Biggs
Julie Brimblecombe
author_sort Emma Tonkin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study aimed to determine the relative validity of dietary quality index scores estimated using the updated version of the Menzies Remote Short-item Dietary Assessment Tool (MRSDAT), a food frequency questionnaire developed for use with remote Indigenous communities in Australia. Methods This validation study compares scores derived from the updated MRSDAT with those derived from 24-h recalls. Participants from nine remote communities across three discrete regions of Australia (Central Australia, North Northern Territory and Cape York) participated in June–September 2021, or May–July 2022. Participants were Indigenous children aged six months to five years, pregnant and/or breastfeeding Indigenous women, and overweight adult Indigenous males and females. The agreement between methods was explored using Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), Bland–Altman plots, weighted Cohen’s kappa, paired samples t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Primary comparisons were completed for the whole sample, and primary and secondary comparisons for only participants with ≥ 2 × 24 h recalls. Results Ninety-nine participants were recruited. The MRSDAT estimated dietary quality index scores 0.31/100 points higher than 24-h recall estimates for participants with ≥ 2 × 24-h recalls, and 0.18/100 points higher for all participants, with consistent results for adults and children (CCC = Rc 0.58, 95% CI 0.39, 0.72). Conclusions Updates to the MRSDAT have resulted in dietary quality index scores highly comparable to those derived from 24-h recalls. The MRSDAT has the practical advantages of speed and convenience for research purposes, and the built-in instant dietary feedback feature has application to service delivery settings given the robust results demonstrated in this validation study.
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spelling doaj-art-13c03c028c79441ea1006d50cbab05fb2025-08-20T03:16:32ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-23233-xThe relative validity of the updated Menzies Remote Short-Item Dietary Assessment Tool (MRSDAT) for use with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adultsEmma Tonkin0Ellie Chan1Caroline Deen2Bronwyn Fredericks3Morag Dhurrkay4Hasthi U. Dissayanake5J. Dhurrkay6George Gurruwiwi7Beverley-Ann Biggs8Julie Brimblecombe9Department of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food, Monash UniversityCentral Australian Aboriginal CongressApunipima Cape York Health CouncilOffice of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, The University of QueenslandDepartment of Infectious Diseases, The Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, 3000, and Victorian Infectious Diseases, Royal Melbourne HospitalDepartment of Infectious Diseases, The Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, 3000, and Victorian Infectious Diseases, Royal Melbourne HospitalDepartment of Infectious Diseases, The Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, 3000, and Victorian Infectious Diseases, Royal Melbourne HospitalDepartment of Infectious Diseases, The Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, 3000, and Victorian Infectious Diseases, Royal Melbourne HospitalDepartment of Infectious Diseases, The Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, 3000, and Victorian Infectious Diseases, Royal Melbourne HospitalDepartment of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food, Monash UniversityAbstract Background This study aimed to determine the relative validity of dietary quality index scores estimated using the updated version of the Menzies Remote Short-item Dietary Assessment Tool (MRSDAT), a food frequency questionnaire developed for use with remote Indigenous communities in Australia. Methods This validation study compares scores derived from the updated MRSDAT with those derived from 24-h recalls. Participants from nine remote communities across three discrete regions of Australia (Central Australia, North Northern Territory and Cape York) participated in June–September 2021, or May–July 2022. Participants were Indigenous children aged six months to five years, pregnant and/or breastfeeding Indigenous women, and overweight adult Indigenous males and females. The agreement between methods was explored using Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), Bland–Altman plots, weighted Cohen’s kappa, paired samples t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Primary comparisons were completed for the whole sample, and primary and secondary comparisons for only participants with ≥ 2 × 24 h recalls. Results Ninety-nine participants were recruited. The MRSDAT estimated dietary quality index scores 0.31/100 points higher than 24-h recall estimates for participants with ≥ 2 × 24-h recalls, and 0.18/100 points higher for all participants, with consistent results for adults and children (CCC = Rc 0.58, 95% CI 0.39, 0.72). Conclusions Updates to the MRSDAT have resulted in dietary quality index scores highly comparable to those derived from 24-h recalls. The MRSDAT has the practical advantages of speed and convenience for research purposes, and the built-in instant dietary feedback feature has application to service delivery settings given the robust results demonstrated in this validation study.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23233-xDietQuestionnaireIndigenousFirst NationsPublic healthFood
spellingShingle Emma Tonkin
Ellie Chan
Caroline Deen
Bronwyn Fredericks
Morag Dhurrkay
Hasthi U. Dissayanake
J. Dhurrkay
George Gurruwiwi
Beverley-Ann Biggs
Julie Brimblecombe
The relative validity of the updated Menzies Remote Short-Item Dietary Assessment Tool (MRSDAT) for use with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adults
BMC Public Health
Diet
Questionnaire
Indigenous
First Nations
Public health
Food
title The relative validity of the updated Menzies Remote Short-Item Dietary Assessment Tool (MRSDAT) for use with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adults
title_full The relative validity of the updated Menzies Remote Short-Item Dietary Assessment Tool (MRSDAT) for use with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adults
title_fullStr The relative validity of the updated Menzies Remote Short-Item Dietary Assessment Tool (MRSDAT) for use with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adults
title_full_unstemmed The relative validity of the updated Menzies Remote Short-Item Dietary Assessment Tool (MRSDAT) for use with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adults
title_short The relative validity of the updated Menzies Remote Short-Item Dietary Assessment Tool (MRSDAT) for use with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adults
title_sort relative validity of the updated menzies remote short item dietary assessment tool mrsdat for use with remote aboriginal and torres strait islander children and adults
topic Diet
Questionnaire
Indigenous
First Nations
Public health
Food
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23233-x
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