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Criterion-related validity of the last 7-day, short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire in Swedish adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Ulf Ekelund ,
Hanna Sepp ,
Sören Brage ,
Wulf Becker ,
Rupert Jakes ,
Mark Hennings  and
Nicholas J Wareham
Ulf Ekelund*
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, Fulbourn Road, Cambridge, CB1 9NL, UK Department of Physical Education and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
Hanna Sepp
Affiliation:
National Food Administration, Uppsala, Sweden
Sören Brage
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, Fulbourn Road, Cambridge, CB1 9NL, UK
Wulf Becker
Affiliation:
National Food Administration, Uppsala, Sweden
Rupert Jakes
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, Fulbourn Road, Cambridge, CB1 9NL, UK
Mark Hennings
Affiliation:
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, UK
Nicholas J Wareham
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, Fulbourn Road, Cambridge, CB1 9NL, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Email Ulf.Ekelund@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Objective

To examine the validity of the short, last 7-day, self-administered form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).

Design

All subjects wore an accelerometer for seven consecutive days and completed the IPAQ questionnaire on the eighth day. Criterion validity was assessed by linear regression analysis and by modified Bland–Altman analysis. Specificity and sensitivity were calculated for classifying respondents according to the physical activity guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Setting

Workplaces in Uppsala, Sweden.

Subjects

One hundred and eighty-five (87 males) participants, aged 20 to 69 years.

Results

Total self-reported physical activity (PA) (MET-min day−1) was significantly correlated with average intensity of activity (counts min−1) from accelerometry (r=0.34, P<0.001). Gender, age, education and body mass index did not affect this relationship. Further, subcomponents of self-reported PA (time spent sitting, time in PA, time in moderate and vigorous activity (MVPA)) were significantly correlated with objectively measured PA (P<0.05). Self-reported time in PA was significantly different from time measured by accelerometry (mean difference: −25.9 min day−1; 95% limits of agreement: −172 to 120 min day−1; P<0.001). IPAQ identified 77% (specificity) of those who met the current PA guidelines of accumulating more than 30 min day−1 in MVPA as determined by accelerometry, whereas only 45% (sensitivity) of those not meeting the guidelines were classified correctly.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the short, last 7-days version of the IPAQ has acceptable criterion validity for use in Swedish adults. However, the IPAQ instrument significantly overestimated self-reported time spent in PA. The specificity to correctly classify people achieving current PA guidelines was acceptable, whereas the sensitivity was low.

Keywords

AccelerometryEnergy expenditureMET-minPhysical activitySelf-reportSensitivitySpecificity

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , April 2006 , pp. 258 - 265
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2006

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