Abstract
BackgroundAlthough physical activity is recognised to be an important determinant of health and nutritional status, few instruments have been developed to assess physical activity in developing countries. The aim of this study was to compare the validity of the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and a locally adapted version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQA) for use in school going adolescents in rural and urban areas in Vietnam.MethodsSixteen year old adolescents from rural areas (n = 137) and urban areas (n = 90) completed the questionnaires in 2006. Test-retest reliability was assessed by comparing registrations after 2 weeks. Criterion validity was assessed by comparison with 7 days continuous accelerometer logging. Validity of the two methods was assessed using Spearman correlation coefficient, intra class correlation coefficients (ICC) and Kappa statistics.ResultsReliability of both questionnaires was poor for both the IPAQ (ICC = 0.37) and the PAQA (ICC = 0.40). Criterion validity of both questionnaires was acceptable and similar for the IPAQ (ρ = 0.21) and the PAQA (ρ = 0.27) but a significantly lower validity was observed in rural areas. Both forms poorly estimated time spent on light, moderate and vigorous physical activity. Agreement of both questionnaires to classify individuals was also low but the IPAQ performed better than the PAQA.ConclusionBoth questionnaires have a similar and overall poor validity to be used as a population instrument in Vietnam. Low reliability and classification properties in rural areas call for further research for specific use in such settings.
Highlights
Physical activity is recognised to be an important determinant of health and nutritional status, few instruments have been developed to assess physical activity in developing countries
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) forms were completed by 227 students and 200 (88%) of them completed the form during the second survey
The values tabulated are those obtained from the first survey of the IPAQ and the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQA)
Summary
Physical activity is recognised to be an important determinant of health and nutritional status, few instruments have been developed to assess physical activity in developing countries. The nutritional status of adolescents is known to be a powerful predictor for diet-related chronic diseases independent of adult weight [2,3]. In particular a healthy diet and an appropriate level of physical activity, remain the foundation for the prevention of diet related non-communicable diseases [4,6]. Childhood malnutrition has been the major concern for public health nutrition for decades but a number of studies show the emerging new burden of non communicable nutrition related diseases [11,12,13]
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