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Concurrent validity and interobserver reliability of the EPInfant pediatric perceived exertion rating scale among
Iván Rodríguez-Núñez1,2,3, Carlos Manterola3,4,5
1Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile.
Insights
The EPInfant scale accurately measures perceived exertion in children aged 8-12. This pediatric rating scale demonstrated strong validity and reliability in Chilean children during exercise testing.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Measurement in Physical Activity
Background:
- Assessing perceived exertion in children is crucial for exercise prescription.
- The EPInfant scale is a pediatric tool designed to measure perceived exertion.
- Validating this scale in diverse populations ensures its broad applicability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the criterion validity and interobserver reliability of the EPInfant scale.
- To assess the EPInfant scale's performance in Chilean children aged 8-12 years.
- To evaluate the consistency of the EPInfant scale during repeated exercise tests.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-one children (17 boys, aged 8-12) underwent two Chester tests one week apart.
- Heart rate, perceived exertion (using EPInfant), and workload were recorded during tests.
- Pearson's r and intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to assess validity and reliability.
Main Results:
- A strong correlation was found between EPInfant ratings and established reference criteria.
- High intraclass correlation coefficients indicated good interobserver reliability.
- Minimal average differences in perceived exertion were observed between tests for both boys and girls.
Conclusions:
- The EPInfant scale demonstrates acceptable criterion validity in Chilean children.
- The EPInfant scale exhibits good interobserver reliability during incremental step tests.
- This study supports the EPInfant scale's utility for assessing perceived exertion in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
The objective of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the EPInfant pediatric perceived exertion rating scale among Chilean children. Children aged 8-12 years old were selected; their heart rate, perceived exertion and workload were recorded during two consecutive Chester tests performed with a one week interval. Pearson's r coefficient and the intraclass correlation coefficient were estimated. Thirty-one children (17 boys) were included in the study. A strong correlation was observed between perceived exertion and reference criteria, in addition to a high intraclass correlation coefficient. The average difference between the perceived exertion in each test was 1.4 (95% CI: -1.4 to 4.1) and 0.2 (95% CI: -1.8 to 2.2) for boys and girls, respectively. The EPInfant scale showed an acceptable criterion validity and interobserver reliability among children during an incremental step test.
