NutriSTEP® is Reliable for Internet and Onscreen Use

Purpose: NutriSTEP (R) screens for nutritional risk in preschoolers (3-5 years of age). Availability has been limited to paper versions. The objective is to test reliability for Internet and Onscreen use. Methods: Two studies were conducted with parents in several Ontario Early Years Centres (Internet (n = 63)) and in the community and schools in Timmons, Guelph, and Ottawa, Ontario (Onscreen (n = 64)). Parents completed NutriSTEP (R) either on paper or using Internet or Onscreen versions. Two weeks later, the alternate mode was completed. Reliability was assessed using Intraclass Correlations (ICC) and Pearson Correlations (PC) on total and attribute scores, Kappa coefficients (kappa) for risk, and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test for responses on individual questions. Results: For total scores, Internet and Onscreen ICCs were 0.94 and 0.91, respectively, with PCs of 0.89 and 0.84, respectively. Attribute scores were 0.69-0.91 (ICC) and 0.70-0.84 (PC) for Internet, and 0.81-0.92 (ICC) and 0.68-0.85 (PC) for Onscreen. kappa amongst risk categories was 0.58 (P = 0.000) for Internet and 0.50 (P = 0.000) for Onscreen. For individual dichotomized questions, 5 of 17 (Onscreen and Internet) were excellent (kappa > 0.75); 11 of 17 (Internet) and 9 of 17 (Onscreen) were adequate (0.40 < kappa > 0.75); 0 of 17 (Internet) and 2 of 17 (Onscreen) questions were poor (kappa < 0.4) in agreement between modes. Conclusions: Internet and Onscreen versions of NutriSTEP (R) are reliable.