Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31327322›Full record

ArticlePublic health nutrition2019

Optimizing portion-size estimation aids: a formative evaluation in Malawi.

Courtney H Schnefke, Chrissie Thakwalakwa, Mary K Muth, John Phuka, Jennifer Coates, Beatrice Rogers, Brooke Colaiezzi, Winnie Bell, Valerie L Flax

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Public health nutrition, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Courtney H SchnefkeFood, Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research Program, RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0181-1502
Chrissie ThakwalakwaCentre for Social Research, Chancellor College, University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi.
Mary K MuthFood, Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research Program, RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7879-0469
John PhukaCollege of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.ORCID 0000-0003-4951-8145
Jennifer CoatesFriedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
Beatrice RogersFriedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
Brooke ColaiezziFriedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
Winnie BellFriedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
Valerie L FlaxFood, Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research Program, RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0200-3355

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate preferences for and ease-of-use perceptions of different aspects of printed and digitally displayed photographic portion-size estimation aids (PSEA) in a low-resource setting and to document accuracy of portion-size selections using PSEA with different visual characteristics.

designA convergent mixed-methods design and stepwise approach were used to assess characteristics of interest in isolation. Participants served themselves food and water, which were weighed before and after consumption to measure leftovers and quantity consumed. Thirty minutes later, data collectors administered a meal recall using a PSEA and then a semi-structured interview.

settingBlantyre and Chikwawa Districts in the southern region of Malawi.

participantsNinety-six women, aged 18-45 years.

resultsPreferences and ease-of-use perceptions favoured photographs rather than drawings of shapes, three and five portion-size options rather than three with four virtual portion-size options, a 45° rather than a 90° photograph angle, and simultaneous rather than sequential presentation of portion-size options. Approximately half to three-quarters of participants found the portion-size options represented appropriate amounts of foods or water consumed. Photographs with three portion sizes resulted in more accurate portion-size selections (closest to measured consumption) than other format and number of portion-size option combinations. A 45° angle and simultaneous presentation were more accurate than a 90° angle and sequential presentation of images.

conclusionsResults from testing PSEA visual characteristics separately can be used to generate optimal PSEA, which can improve participants' experiences during meal recalls.

Indexed as

Energy IntakePhotographyPortion SizeSize PerceptionAdolescentAdultDietFemaleFoodHumansMalawiMental RecallMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultDietary assessment toolDietary intakeDietary recallLow-resource settingPortion-size estimation

Identifiers

PMID31327322
PMCPMC10260612

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.