Comparing Self-Administered Web-Based to Interviewer-Led 24-h Dietary Recall (FOODCONS): An Italian Pilot Case Study

The national food consumption surveys are crucial for monitoring the nutritional status of population but are also time and resource consuming. The growing use of technology and web-based platforms can help to reduce the logistical burden and cost of conventional methods. This study aims to compare self-administered 24 h recall to those obtained from interviewer-led 24 h recall by examining food items, food group and nutrient intakes using the online software FOODCONS 1.0 in both cases. The volunteers (39 adults) were randomized in A and B groups. On study days, they completed a self-administered 24 h recall and 3 h later, an interviewer-led 24 h recall. After 15 days, the same process was repeated in the opposite way. The difference in the two-day mean of energy and macro- and micronutrients intakes between the two methods was not statistically significant. The Bland–Altman analysis found a good agreement for energy, carbohydrates and fiber. At the level of food groups, the correlation coefficients indicated good concordance between the two methods. The self-administered 24 h recall through FOODCONS 1.0 software could be a suitable alternative to an interviewer-led interview, allowing a higher participation rate and less time-consuming food consumption studies.