Concurrent Validity Between Electronically Administered Physical Activity Questionnaires and Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Danish Community-Dwelling Older Adults

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Rasmus T. Larsen
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Christoffer B. Korfitsen
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Carsten B. Juhl
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Henning Boje Andersen
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Henning Langberg
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Jan Christensen
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2020-0214
Keywords:
IPAQ; NPAQ; physical activity monitoring
First Published Online:
12 Dec 2020
In Print:
Volume 29: Issue 4
Page Range:
595–603
Restricted access

Aim: To investigate the concurrent validity of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF) and the Nordic Physical Activity Questionnaire-short (NPAQ-short) when compared with objectively measured daily steps among older adults. Methods: Spearman’s ρ between IPAQ-SF and NPAQ-short and objectively measured steps using Garmin Vivofit 3 physical activity monitors. Results: A total of 54 participants were included. The IPAQ-SF subscales’ moderate physical activity (PA), moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and sedentary time showed little or no correlation with daily steps. The NPAQ-short subscales’ vigorous PA, moderate PA, and MVPA showed little or no correlation. The IPAQ-SF subscales’ vigorous PA and walking showed fair correlation. Only the IPAQ-SF metabolic equivalent of task minutes showed moderate to good correlation with daily steps. The IPAQ-SF categories and NPAQ-short categorization of World Health Organization compliance were significantly different, but the magnitudes were small and distributions indicated problems with the categorization. Conclusion: The concurrent validity is low, as the scores did not reflect objectively measured daily steps.

Larsen and Korfitsen are with the Section of Social Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Korfitsen is also with Musculoskeletal Statistics Unit, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. Juhl is with the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; and the Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte, Denmark. Andersen is with the Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark. Langberg is with the Section for Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Christensen is with the Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; and the National Centre for Rehabilitation and Palliative Care, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark; and Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.

Larsen (rala@sund.ku.dk) is corresponding author.

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