Assessing a self-administered dietary 24h-recall tool using ASA24 in the Swiss context: Acceptability, usability and reported dietary intake across age groups
Sophie Bucher Della Torre, Valeria A. Bertoni Maluf, Céline Pabion, Nicolas Parel, Monica Menin, Aline Siegfried-Troxler, Isabelle Carrard, Angeline Chatelan, Clémence Moullet, Corinne Jotterand ChaparroBackground & Aims
The 24-hour dietary recall is a widely recommended tool in nutrition research. The Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24) is a free, web-based tool, validated in North America and available in Canadian French. This observational study aimed to assess the acceptability, usability, and reported dietary intake patterns of a self-assessment 24h-recall tool, using ASA24, across different age groups in French-speaking Switzerland.
Methods
French-speaking participants with internet access were recruited across different age groups. A preparatory phase included a pre-test of ASA24 and the development of a tutorial video and user guide. In the main study, participants completed ASA24 on two non-consecutive days, answered an online survey including the System Usability Scale (SUS); and a subsample took part in a semi-structured interview.
Results
Of 129 interested individuals, 92 were included and 80 (62%) completed the main study. Most were women (n=55, 70%), Swiss nationals (n=64, 80%), and comfortable with technology (n=55, 70%). Mean (±SD) completion time was 35±18 minutes for the first recall and 28±15 for the second, with longer durations among older adults (52±26 and 42±20 minutes). SUS scores averaged 65±17 (acceptable score: 52-73), ranging from 58±24 in older adults to 71±17 in younger adults. Reported challenges included finding local foods, estimating portion sizes in ounces, and understanding the AM/PM time format.
Conclusions
ASA24 was well accepted and usable among younger adults, with some limitations observed in the other age groups. With appropriate adaptations to the local context, ASA24 could become a valuable tool for dietary assessment in Switzerland.