Reliability of interviewers using the Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• The Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall (SPAR) is a widely used tool in epidemiologic research.
• Standardized training and certification methods for SPAR interviewers are lacking, potentially affecting data reliability.
• Ensuring consistent interviewer performance is vital for valid physical activity assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability of SPAR interviews following a structured training program.
• To determine if naive interviewers can achieve consistent results after standardized training.
• To assess the effectiveness of a brief training intervention for SPAR data collection.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-one volunteer interviewers underwent a five-session group training program.
• Training focused on standardized interview techniques and scoring procedures for the SPAR.
• Interviewer reliability was assessed through test-retest scoring of videotaped interviews and independent interviews with the same participants.

Main Results:

• High test-retest reliability (r = .99) was observed for scoring the SPAR across all interviewers and videotapes.
• Interviewer reliability for kilocalorie expenditure estimation was strong (r = .86) when two interviewers assessed the same individual.
• The training program demonstrated significant success in standardizing interviewer performance.

Conclusions:

• A brief, structured training program can equip individuals to reliably conduct and score the Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall.
• Standardized training enhances the consistency and validity of SPAR data in research.
• This approach offers a practical solution for improving the quality of physical activity assessment in large-scale studies.