Assessing a self-administered dietary 24h-recall tool using ASA24 in the Swiss context: Acceptability, usability and reported dietary intake across age groups
- 1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Carouge, Switzerland
- 2Federal Department of Home Affairs, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, Bern, Switzerland
Abstract
Background & Aims: The 24-hour dietary recall is a widely recommended tool in nutrition research. The Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24) is a free, web-based tool, validated in North America and available in Canadian French. This observational study aimed to assess the acceptability, usability, and reported dietary intake patterns of a self-assessment 24h-recall tool, using ASA24, across different age groups in French-speaking Switzerland.
Methods: French-speaking participants with internet access were recruited across different age groups. A preparatory phase included a pre-test of ASA24 and the development of a tutorial video and user guide. In the main study, participants completed ASA24 on two non-consecutive days, answered an online survey including the System Usability Scale (SUS); and a subsample took part in a semi-structured interview.
Results: Of 129 interested individuals, 92 were included and 80 (62%) completed the main study. Most were women (n=55, 70%), Swiss nationals (n=64, 80%), and comfortable with technology (n=55, 70%). Mean (±SD) completion time was 35±18 minutes for the first recall and 28±15 for the second, with longer durations among older adults (52±26 and 42±20 minutes). SUS scores averaged 65±17 (acceptable score: 52-73), ranging from 58±24 in older adults to 71±17 in younger adults. Reported challenges included finding local foods, estimating portion sizes in ounces, and understanding the AM/PM time format.
Conclusions: ASA24 was well accepted and usable among younger adults, with some limitations observed in the other age groups. With appropriate adaptations to the local context, ASA24 could become a valuable tool for dietary assessment in Switzerland.
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BibTeX
@article{torre2026assessing,
title = {{Assessing a self-administered dietary 24h-recall tool using ASA24 in the Swiss context: Acceptability, usability and reported dietary intake across age groups}},
author = {Sophie Bucher Della Torre and Valeria A. Bertoni Maluf and Céline Pabion and Nicolas Parel and Monica Menin and Aline Siegfried-Troxler and Isabelle Carrard and Angeline Chatelan and Clémence Moullet and Corinne Jotterand Chaparro},
journal = {Digital Health},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1177/20552076261490694},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076261490694},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Assessing a self-administered dietary 24h-recall tool using ASA24 in the Swiss context: Acceptability, usability and reported dietary intake across age groups
AU - Sophie Bucher Della Torre
AU - Valeria A. Bertoni Maluf
AU - Céline Pabion
AU - Nicolas Parel
AU - Monica Menin
AU - Aline Siegfried-Troxler
AU - Isabelle Carrard
AU - Angeline Chatelan
AU - Clémence Moullet
AU - Corinne Jotterand Chaparro
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/21
JO - Digital Health
DO - 10.1177/20552076261490694
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076261490694
AB - Background & Aims: The 24-hour dietary recall is a widely recommended tool in nutrition research. The Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24) is a free, web-based tool, validated in North America and available in Canadian French. This observational study aimed to assess the acceptability, usability, and reported dietary intake patterns of a self-assessment 24h-recall tool, using ASA24, across different age groups in French-speaking Switzerland. Methods: French-speaking participants with internet access were recruited across different age groups. A preparatory phase included a pre-test of ASA24 and the development of a tutorial video and user guide. In the main study, participants completed ASA24 on two non-consecutive days, answered an online survey including the System Usability Scale (SUS); and a subsample took part in a semi-structured interview. Results: Of 129 interested individuals, 92 were included and 80 (62%) completed the main study. Most were women (n=55, 70%), Swiss nationals (n=64, 80%), and comfortable with technology (n=55, 70%). Mean (±SD) completion time was 35±18 minutes for the first recall and 28±15 for the second, with longer durations among older adults (52±26 and 42±20 minutes). SUS scores averaged 65±17 (acceptable score: 52-73), ranging from 58±24 in older adults to 71±17 in younger adults. Reported challenges included finding local foods, estimating portion sizes in ounces, and understanding the AM/PM time format. Conclusions: ASA24 was well accepted and usable among younger adults, with some limitations observed in the other age groups. With appropriate adaptations to the local context, ASA24 could become a valuable tool for dietary assessment in Switzerland.
SN - 2055-2076
ER -