Comparison of the BRFSS Physical Activity Module and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)

Abstract

0773 Two questionnaires have been developed to measure the prevalence of physical activity (PA) in surveillance systems, the PA module in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Both instruments use a one-week recall of the frequency and duration of vigorous and moderate PA. Purpose: To compare the prevalence of PA obtained from the BRFSS and the IPAQ. Methods: Data were obtained from the National Physical Activity and Weight Loss Survey, a random digit dial telephone survey of U.S. adults, conducted from September to December 2002. Both instruments were scored using the BRFSS PA protocol as: (1) meets national PA recommendations for moderate PA > 5 d/wk and > 30 min/d and/or vigorous PA > 3 d/wk and > 20 min/session), (2) insufficiently active (some PA but not meeting recommendations), or (3) inactive (no PA). Agreement of PA categories was computed by the Kappa (K) statistic. Results: Completed surveys were obtained from 11,211 adults (48.3% male, 51.7% female; 72.2% White, 11.1% Black, 10.8% Hispanic). The prevalence of PA was: Meets Recommendation: BRFSS 47.6%; IPAQ 52.1%; Insufficient: BRFSS 38.4%; IPAQ 33.4%; Inactive: BRFSS 14.0%; IPAQ 14.5%. Overall agreement of PA classifications was K = 0.43 (95% CI: 0.41, 0.44). The IPAQ identified more regularly actives and the BRFSS identified more insufficiently actives. Conclusion: Agreement was fair-to-good between the two instruments. A higher prevalence of recommended PA on the IPAQ vs. the BRFSS may be due to the inclusion of occupational PA in the IPAQ questions about moderate and vigorous PA. This study was supported by CDC Cooperative Agreement, SIP 20–01, U48/CCU409664.