Criterion Validity and Reliability of 2 Brief Physical Activity Questionnaires in Ethnically Diverse Adults

Area of Science:

• Exercise physiology
• Public health research
• Biomedical data collection

Background:

• Accurate measurement of physical activity is crucial for public health.
• Questionnaires like Exercise Vital Signs (EVS) and Physical Activity Vital Signs (PAVS) are commonly used to assess moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA).
• Validation against objective measures like accelerometry is essential, particularly in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare MVPA measured by EVS and PAVS questionnaires against accelerometry.
• To evaluate the reliability of EVS and PAVS in ethnically diverse adults.

Main Methods:

• Ninety-nine ethnically diverse adults wore an accelerometer for 7 days.
• Participants completed EVS and PAVS questionnaires at the beginning (T1) and end (T2) of the measurement period.
• Spearman rho correlation, intraclass correlation coefficient, sensitivity, and specificity were used for analysis.

Main Results:

• Weak positive correlations were found between accelerometer-measured MVPA and both EVS (ρ = .263) and PAVS (ρ = .327) at T2.
• Sensitivities were 73.2% for EVS and 82.6% for PAVS, while specificity was 35.3% for both.
• EVS showed good reliability (ICC = .855), whereas PAVS demonstrated moderate reliability (ICC = .652).

Conclusions:

• The EVS and PAVS questionnaires exhibit limited agreement with accelerometry for MVPA assessment in diverse adults.
• While EVS demonstrates good reliability and PAVS moderate reliability, their low specificity suggests potential overestimation of physical activity levels.
• Clinical and research use of EVS and PAVS in ethnically diverse populations requires careful consideration due to observed limitations.