Methodological Choices on 24-h Movement Behavior Assessment by Accelerometry: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Movement science
• Biomedical engineering
• Public health

Background:

• Limited synthesis of current measurement protocols for 24-hour movement behaviors (MovBeh) using accelerometry across the lifespan.
• Need for standardized methods to assess physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize accelerometry-based measurement protocols and processing decisions in 24-hour MovBeh studies.
• To cover the full age spectrum, from toddlers to older adults.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search of PubMed, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, and EMBASE up to December 2022.
• Inclusion of observational or intervention studies with 24-hour accelerometry protocols across all ages.
• Analysis of 102 studies, examining device usage, data collection duration, wear time criteria, epoch length, sleep/sedentary/physical activity algorithms, and participant compliance strategies.

Main Results:

• The Actigraph GT3X was the most utilized device, with most studies collecting 7-day data (including weekdays and weekend days) for ≥16 hours/day.
• Significant variability observed in non-wear time criteria (20-90 minutes of consecutive zero counts), epoch lengths (15s for youth, 60s for adults), and the choice of sleep/sedentary/physical activity algorithms.
• Exclusion of non-compliant participants was the primary strategy for managing data, with diaries/logs frequently used to supplement accelerometer data.

Conclusions:

• Accelerometer protocols and methodological decisions in 24-hour MovBeh studies exhibit considerable heterogeneity.
• A lack of consensus on methodological choices impedes study precision and comparability.
• Standardization is essential but challenging due to complex procedures, diverse accelerometer types, and numerous programming options.