Abstracts Category : Other

Validation of a Questionnaire for Digestion-associated Well-being in Healthy Undergraduate Students

by Sydney A Weir

Fiber may affect general well-being positively or negatively, but this has not been assessed in healthy adults. This study validates a questionnaire (DAWBQ) designed to capture changes in digestion-associated well-being (DAWB) when participants increase their fiber intake. Healthy individuals, ages 18-25 (n=22), were recruited for a 3-week study. After completing a 1-week baseline period, participants consumed 1 cup of high fiber cereal (39 g dietary fiber) for 1 week followed by a 1-week washout period. Daily and weekly questionnaires captured changes in total fiber intake, gastrointestinal function and DAWB. The DAWBQ consisted of 20 questions that rated well-being from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Following the intervention, self-selected participants joined a focus group to evaluate the relevance of the DAWBQ. Total intake of dietary fiber and weekly bowel movements increased (15.3 1.5 g [mean SEM] to 53.41.7 g of fiber [P<0.05]; and 17.0 1.0 to 22.3 2.0 stools per week [P=0.01]) with the fiber intervention. However, responses to 11 of the questions in the DAWBQ did not change (i.e., 80% of responses were strongly disagree or disagree for all 3 study weeks). Focus group input suggested the wording of the DAWBQ was too strong. Further modifications are required in wording and response anchors. ( en )