Reliability and validity of the habitual activity estimation scale (HAES) in patients with cystic fibrosis

To understand potential benefits of exercise in the cystic fibrosis (CF) population, there needs to be accurate methods to quantify it. The Habitual Activity Estimation Scale (HAES) questionnaire has been shown to be a feasible tool to measure physical activity however the reliability and validity have yet to be determined in the CF population.

Fourteen (seven male, seven female) patients aged 16.2 +/- 4.2 years with CF participated in this study. Participants were clinically stable at the time of the study and participating in their habitual physical activity. To assess reliability, patients completed the HAES and a validated 3-day activity diary, and wore an ActiGraph Accelerometer for two consecutive weeks. Validity was assessed by comparing the activity results of each of the three instruments over a single week time period.

ICC estimates of reliability for the HAES, diary, and accelerometer were 0.72 (P < 0.0001), 0.76 (P < 0.0001), 0.63 (P < 0.0001), respectively. Validity analysis indicated that there were significant relationships between the participants' activity results as estimated by the HAES, diary and accelerometer. Further, significant relationships were detected between activity measures when broken into morning, afternoon, or evening periods, and between measures from weekday or weekend days. There were also significant relationships among the three instruments when recording different activity levels (somewhat inactive, somewhat active, and very active).

The findings of this study suggest that the HAES questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument that can be used to assess activities of varying intensity in patients with CF.