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Published on: March 7, 2019
Active-Q: validation of the web-based physical activity questionnaire using doubly labeled water
Stephanie Erika Bonn1, Ylva Trolle Lagerros, Sara Elisabeth Christensen
1Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. stephanie.bonn@ki.se
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|February 24, 2012
Summary
Active-Q, a new web-based questionnaire, is a valid and reproducible tool for measuring adult physical activity and energy expenditure. This user-friendly method is suitable for large epidemiological studies.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Human Physiology
Background:
- The internet facilitates large-scale data collection for health studies.
- Active-Q is a novel web-based questionnaire designed to measure physical activity and inactivity in adults.
- It covers daily occupation, transportation, leisure, and sports activities over the past year.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate Active-Q's energy expenditure (EE) estimates against the doubly labeled water (DLW) method.
- To assess the reproducibility of Active-Q by comparing repeated questionnaire administrations.
Main Methods:
- Validity and reproducibility were assessed in 37 adults (aged 20-65).
- Active-Q was administered via email.
- Total EE was measured using DLW over 11 days.
Main Results:
- Active-Q completion time averaged 6.1 minutes; 73% found it easy.
- Active-Q overestimated EE by 440 kJ compared to DLW (Spearman's r = 0.52, P < .001).
- Intraclass correlation for EE reproducibility was 0.83 (95% CI 0.73-0.93).
Conclusions:
- Active-Q is a valid and reproducible method for assessing total energy expenditure.
- The questionnaire is user-friendly and appropriate for web-based data collection in large epidemiological studies.
