FANTASTIC lifestyle questionnaire from 1983 until 2022: A review

Studying lifestyles has always been important; quantifying them has become more complex. However, a questionnaire produced in 1983 has shown that its simple form of evaluation can be an added value in understanding lifestyles. Our aim is a systematic review of the scientific literature about the use of the FANTASTIC Lifestyle questionnaire (FLQ).

The reflective systematic literature review on PubMed, Medline, Science Direct, and SCIELO databases with the descriptors “FANTASTIC Lifestyle questionnaire” OR “FANTASTICO questionnaire” OR “FANTASTIC questionnaire” OR “FANTASTIC survey” OR “FANTASTIC checklist”. PRISMA criteria reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses were applied. The inclusion criteria were the use of FLQ instrument to measure lifestyles, presenting quantitative or qualitative results, and psychometric studies. It excluded other lifestyle instruments, incomplete articles, and non-English, Brazilian, Spanish, and Portuguese language articles.

Findings reveal 41 scientific articles included in the study. It analyzed the results and most studies use the instrument to assess all dimensions. However, some studies reported assessing specific dimensions such as nutrition, sleep, stress, tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. The questionnaire has been applied to a wide range of ages and literacy levels.

This literature review allowed us to conclude that this questionnaire is still in use today and is applied in several contexts and populations. It is also possible to verify the relevance of its use and to design intervention strategies and programs for a healthy society. It is essential to draw attention to this issue and promote health literacy (HL) on this topic.