Field interviewer–administered dietary recalls in participants’ homes: A feasibility study using the US Department of Agriculture’s Automated Multiple-Pass Method
Key Points
- Since 2002, the US Department of Agriculture’s Automated Multiple-Pass Method (USDA AMPM)2,3 has been the instrument used to collect 24-hour dietary recalls during the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
- This study found that it is feasible to conduct dietary recall interviews using the USDA’s AMPM in participants’ homes.
- One of the most optimistic findings from this study is that the range of values reported for number of food items, food group intakes, and nutrient intakes for AMPMs in the home were observed to be reasonable across all study arms regardless of interviewer or equipment type.
- With vigorous training and support for field staff, this study produced paradata that supported feasibility as well as reasonable AMPM intake data.
- Research and/or program objectives should be carefully considered along with available resources when designing plans for home data collection.
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of administering the Automated Multiple-Pass Method (AMPM), a widely used tool for collecting 24-hour dietary recalls, in participants’ homes by field interviewers.
Design: The design included computer-assisted personal interviews led by either a nutritionist (standard) or field interviewer. Portion estimators tested were a set of three-dimensional food models (standard), a two-dimensional food model booklet, or a tablet with digital images rendered via augmented reality.
Setting: Residences in central North Carolina.
Participants: English-speaking adults. Pregnant women and individuals who were fasting were excluded.
Results: Among 133 interviews, most took place in living rooms (52%) or kitchens (22%). Mean interview time was 40 minutes (range 13–90), with no difference by interviewer type or portion estimator, although timing for nutritionist-led interviews declined significantly over the study period. Forty-five percent of participants referenced items from their homes to facilitate recall and portion estimation. Data entry and post-interview coding was evaluated and determined to be consistent with requirements for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Values for the number of food items consumed, food groups, energy intake (average of 3,011 kcal for men and 2,105 kcal for women), and key nutrients were determined to be plausible and within reasonably expected ranges regardless of interviewer type or portion estimator used.
Conclusions: AMPM dietary recall interviews conducted in the home are feasible and may be preferable to clinical administration because of comfort and the opportunity for participants to access home items for recall. AMPMs administered by field interviewers using the food model booklet produced credible nutrition data that was comparable to AMPMs administered by nutritionists. Training field interviewers in dietary recall and conducting home interviews may be sensible choices for nutrition studies when response rates and cost are concerns.
© 2026 RTI International. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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