Outcome measurement instruments used to measure diet-related outcomes in infancy: A scoping review.

Introduction: Supporting positive diet behaviours during infancy is essential to support child health and prevent childhood obesity. How infant diet-related outcomes are measured in trials is crucial to determining intervention effectiveness. This scoping review examined what and how outcome measurement instruments are currently used to measure 13 infant diet-related outcomes from a previously developed core outcome set.

Methods: The databases EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched from inception to September 2023. Eligible studies reported trials that included infants ≤1 year old and at least one diet-related outcome measurement instrument. Titles/abstracts and full texts were independently screened in duplicate. Data were narratively synthesised.

Results: 136 studies reporting 133 trials were included. Outcome measurement instruments used included 66 questionnaires (n = 70 studies), 65 individual questions (n = 45 studies), 24 food diaries/records (n = 21 studies), 11 24-hour dietary recall (n = 11 studies), and healthcare record data (n = 6 studies). Outcome measurement instruments were predominantly self-administered by researchers in participants homes. There was a lack of reporting for some outcome measurements used.

Conclusion: Review findings highlight the need to improve clarity and completeness of outcome reporting. The findings also provide an important first step to address heterogeneity in measurement of infant diet-related outcomes. Consistent measurement of diet-related outcomes is needed to improve synthesis and evaluation of obesity prevention interventions.