Pediatric Adapted Liking Survey: A Novel, Feasible and Reliable Dietary Screening in Clinical Practice

Sharon R Smith; Stephanie T Johnson; Samantha M Oldman; Valerie B Duffy

doi:10.1159/000485467

Pediatric Adapted Liking Survey: A Novel, Feasible and Reliable Dietary Screening in Clinical Practice

Caries Res. 2019;53(2):153-159. doi: 10.1159/000485467. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

Authors

Sharon R Smith¹, Stephanie T Johnson², Samantha M Oldman³, Valerie B Duffy⁴

Affiliations

¹ University of Connecticut School of Medicine, CT Children's Medical Center, Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
² Department of Research, CT Children's Medical Center, Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
³ Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA.
⁴ Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USAvalerie.duffy@uconn.edu.

Abstract

Purpose: Rapid yet useful methods are needed to screen for dietary behaviors in clinical settings. We tested the feasibility and reliability of a pediatric adapted liking survey (PALS) to screen for dietary behaviors and suggest tailored caries and obesity prevention messages.

Methods: In an observational study, children admitted to a pediatric emergency department (PED) for nonurgent care were approached to complete the PALS (33 foods, 4 nonfoods including brushing teeth). Measured height/weight were used for body mass index (BMI) percentile determination. Feasibility was assessed by response rate and PALS completion time. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency of food groups and test-retest reliability for PED-home reported PALS.

Results: PALS was completed by 144 children (96% of approached) - 54% male (average age = 11 ± 3 years) with diversity in family income (43% publicly insured), race/ethnicity (15% African American, 33% Hispanic, 44% Caucasian) and adiposity (3% underweight, 50% normal, 31% overweight, 17% obese, 8% extremely obese). The average completion time was 3: 52 min, and conceptual food groups had reasonable internal reliability. From 57% (n = 82) with PED-home completion, PALS had a good/excellent test-retest reliability. Relative preferences for sweets versus brushing teeth identified unique groups of children for tailored prevention messages (high sweet/brushing preference, sweets > brushing, brushing > sweets). Females with higher adiposity reported significantly greater preference for sweet/high-fat foods, independently of demographic variables; the relationship was nonsignificant in males and with the other food groups.

Conclusion: The PALS appears to be a fast, feasible and reliable dietary screener in a clinical setting to assist in forming tailored diet-related messages for dental caries and obesity prevention.

Keywords: Caries; Caries prevention; Children; Dietary assessment; Dietary screener; Obesity prevention; Sweet preference; Test-retest reliability.

Publication types

Observational Study
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Body Mass Index
Child
Dental Caries* / prevention & control
Diet*
Female
Health Behavior*
Health Surveys*
Humans
Male
Mass Screening
Obesity* / prevention & control
Reproducibility of Results