A streamlined, enhanced self-report physical activity measure for young adults. Issue 5 (2nd September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quick, Virginia; Byrd-Bredbenner, Carol; Shoff, Suzanne; White, Adrienne A.; Lohse, Barbara; Horacek, Tanya; Kattelmann, Kendra; Phillips, Beatrice; Hoerr, Sharon; Greene, Geoffrey
• Is Part Of: International journal of health promotion and education. Volume 54:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 245
• Page End: 254
• Publication Date: 2016-09-02
• Subjects: walking -- moderate activity -- vigorous activity -- students; Health education -- Periodicals; Health promotion -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Periodicals; 613.05
• DOI: 10.1080/14635240.2016.1169941
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-5240

Abstract

Abstract : Many health promotion practitioners and researchers use the self-report International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to estimate physical activity (PA) level. Reporting days/week and minutes/day engaging in PA can be challenging for participants. Thus, the purpose of this study was to develop a streamlined, enhanced scoring method of the IPAQ that could reduce participant burden and improve research reporting. IPAQ data from 1471 U.S. university students (79% White, 58% female) at 8 universities were scored using IPAQ traditional short-form scoring algorithm (IPAQ-TSA) to generate metabolic equivalents (METS/minute/week) and an IPAQ Streamlined Scoring Algorithm (IPAQ-SSA) without minutes/day using weighted exercise intensity and days/week. IPAQ-TSA and IPAQ-SSA measures categorize participants into high, moderate, or low PA level based on their PA patterns. Spearman rank correlations between IPAQ-SSA and IPAQ METS ( r = 0.69, p < 0.001) were moderate. Correlations between IPAQ-TSA and IPAQ-SSA categories were strong ( r = 0.71, p < 0.001), but χ 2 tests revealed significantly lower proportion of participants in IPAQ-TSA low PA level than IPAQ-SSA (2.7 vs. 43.5%) suggesting IPAQ-TSA may overestimate PA. In conclusion, the IPAQ-SSA is shorter, eliminates recall bias of reporting minutes/day of PA, and may be sufficiently descriptive of PA, which would be helpful for health promotion practitioners and researchers. However, validation with objective PA measures is warranted.