Questionnaire choice affects the prevalence of recommended physical activity: an online survey comparing four measuring instruments within the same sample

Abstract Background Since prevalence estimates of recommended physical activity (PA) considerably vary between different surveys, prevalence might be crucially affected by the choice of measuring instrument. The aim of the present study is to compare the results of four PA questionnaires regarding the current moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic PA (MVPA) recommendations of the World Health Organization. Methods Within an online survey, participants answered the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS), the European Health Interview Survey PA Questionnaire (EHIS), the Eurobarometer (EURO), and a single-item measure (SIM). Weekly volume of MVPA was compared via a Friedman test and the prevalence of participants achieving the WHO’s MVPA recommendation via Cochran’s Q. Agreement between all questionnaire pairs was evaluated via Kappa statistics. Results One hundred seventy-six participants were included in the analyses (70.5% female, mean age: 33.1 years (SD=12.2)). Between the four questionnaires, the weekly volume of MVPA statistically significant differed (SIM: MED=90.0 (MIN=0.0, MAX=210.0), DEGS: MED=120.0 (MIN=0.0, MAX=420.0), EHIS: MED=24.0 (MIN=0.0, MAX=1395.0), EURO: MED=51.0 (MIN=0.0, MAX=2430.0), p<.001, all pairwise comparisons p<.01), as well as the prevalence of participants achieving the MVPA recommendations (SIM 31.3% (95% CI 24.5–38.7), DEGS 43.2% (95% CI 35.8–50.8), EHIS 67.0% (95% CI 59.6–73.9), EURO 87.5% (95% CI 81.7–92.0), p<.001), except between SIM and DEGS (p=.067). Agreement was weak between all questionnaire pairs (all κ< 0.60). Conclusions Questionnaire choice crucially affects the resulting MVPA data and hence the prevalence of achieving recommended PA levels within the same sample. Therefore, for PA surveillance, standardised survey and analysis methods and efforts to harmonise monitoring systems are needed, since whether recommended levels of PA are achieved should not be determined by the choice of one measuring instrument or another.

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Immediate Impact of the COVID-19 Confinement on Physical Activity Levels in Spanish Adults

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12145708 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (14) ◽

pp. 5708 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Rubén López-Bueno ◽

Joaquín Calatayud ◽

Lars L. Andersen ◽

Carlos Balsalobre-Fernández ◽

José Casaña ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Online Survey ◽

Short Form ◽

Spanish Population ◽

World Health ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Paired Samples ◽

Chi Squared ◽

Health Organization ◽

University Degree

Enacted measures to control the spread of COVID-19 disease such as compulsory confinement may influence health behaviors. The present study investigated changes in physical activity (PA) levels during the first days of confinement. Using an online survey, the Spanish population (n = 2042, 54% women, age 35.9 (SD 13.6) years) replied to questions concerning sociodemographic characteristics as well as PA behavior before and during the first week of enacted isolation. Physical activity vital sign (PAVS) short form was used to estimate weekly minutes of PA before and during the isolation period. Statistical analysis used the following tests: Mc Nemar Chi-squared tests, independent and paired samples t-test, and effect size (Cohen’s d). During the first week of confinement, participants reduced their weekly PA levels by 20% (~45.2 weekly minutes (95% CI: 37.4−53.0)). This led to a decrease from 60.6% to 48.9% (difference: 11.7%) (p < 0.0001) in the number of participants meeting the recommended World Health Organization (WHO) PA levels. Subgroups including men, participants aged 43 or over, and those not holding a university degree had the greatest reductions in both weekly minutes of PA and adherence to guidelines. The PA levels of the Spanish population generally declined during the first days of COVID-19 confinement.

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Correction to: Questionnaire choice affects the prevalence of recommended physical activity: an online survey comparing four measuring instruments within the same sample

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10514-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gerrit Stassen ◽

Kevin Rudolf ◽

Madeleine Gernert ◽

Ansgar Thiel ◽

Andrea Schaller

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Online Survey ◽

Measuring Instruments ◽

Recommended Physical Activity

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

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The structure and forms of physical activity in the City of Zagreb 2O14/2015

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.434 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

A Puljak ◽

M Zivec ◽

M Polic-Vizintin ◽

H Radasevic ◽

Z Sostar

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Target Population ◽

World Health ◽

Physically Active ◽

European Health Interview Survey ◽

Health Organization ◽

Health Enhancing Physical Activity ◽

Sport And Recreation ◽

The City

Abstract Background Physical inactivity is one of the biggest public health problems of the 21st century. It is carried through walking, cycling, job, sports, recreation. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the physical activity of the citizens of Zagreb according to sex, age and the type of physcal activity. Health-Enhancing Physical Activity recommendations are at least 150 of moderate or 75 vigorous minutes activity per week. Methods The research has been conducted by analyzing the data gained from the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS 2) from the World Health Organization that was carried out in Croatia during 2014. and 2015. There were collected the data on the frequency, duration and type of physical activity in the City of Zagreb. The target population was aged over 15 and included 446 inhabitants (188 men and 258 women) of the City of Zagreb. Results 24,5% of the total number of physically active persons exercise between 150 and 300 minutes per week. 45, 0 % respondents walk 10 to 29 minutes daily, 27, 1% walk 30-59 minutes daily, 14, 9% walk 1 or more hours a day. 1,2% respodents spend less then hour, 13, 6% spend 1 hour and 59 minutes, 18, 3% spend 2.00-2.59 hours and 8, 3% spend 3-3.59 hours on sport and recreation per week. 13, 8% of citizens spend 10-29 minutes a day cycling, 30.1% cycling 30-59 minutes a day, 12, 2% cycling 1 hour to 1 hour and 59 minutes and 2.4% spending more than 2 hours a day on a bicycle. When doing a professional job or work at home 43, 7% of respondents mostly sit or stand, 32,3% use moderate physical effort and 1, 5% of people perform hard work. 14.4% of respondents are engaged in sports, 11.9% cycling and 71, 9 % respondents walk 3-7 days a week. Conclusions Zagreb’s citizens are not sufficiently engaged in physical activity and carry out physical activity mainly while doing the job and walking. But those who are active meet weekly recommendations for duration of activity. Key messages Physical activity is one of the key health factors and one of the most effective ways of preventing chronic non-communicable diseases. There is a need of more public health interventions in order to promote recommended frequency, duration and different types of physical activity.

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Association of COVID-19 lockdown measures with changes in physical activity of the adult population of Russia

CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPY AND PREVENTION ◽

10.15829/1728-8800-2021-2938 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (7) ◽

pp. 2938

Author(s):

D. K. Mukaneeva ◽

A. V. Kontsevaya ◽

A. A. Antsiferova ◽

I. N. Khalfiev ◽

A. A. Seledtsov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

World Health Organization ◽

Online Survey ◽

Adult Population ◽

Evidence Base ◽

World Health ◽

Survey Period ◽

The World ◽

Health Organization ◽

The Impact

Aim. To assess the impact of lockdown measures during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on physical activity (PA) of the adult population in Russia.Material and methods. The online survey was conducted during the period of strict restrictions in Russia from April 26, 2020 to June 6, 2020. The survey involved respondents aged ≥18 years. Participants reported the frequency and duration of moderate to high-intensity PA, as well as walking and other types of exercise, before the pandemic and during the last seven days during the survey period.Results. In the country as a whole, there was a decrease in all types of PA during the pandemic. The proportion of participants who met the World Health Organization recommendations for any type of PA decreased from 68 to 49% (p<0,001). Proportion of those who followed the World Health Organization recommendations for strength training for ≥2 days per week decreased from 53 to 45% (p<0,001).Conclusion. The results of the study are the evidence base to substantiate the feasibility of measures aimed at correcting the lifestyle of the population in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Taiwan: An Facebook Online study on Concern/Fear Regarding the Disease and General Anxiety and Relevant Factors (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.21165 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Peng-Wei Wang ◽

Wei-Hsin Lu ◽

Yi-Lung Chen ◽

Dian-Jeng Li ◽

Yu-Ping Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Online Survey ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Health Resources ◽

World Health ◽

Regional Government ◽

General Anxiety ◽

Self Confidence ◽

Health Organization

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a ‘public health emergency of international concern. Both worry and anxiety are the common psychological impact during the pandemic. The level of and determinants for worry and anxiety during COVID-19 are not well explored. OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to explore the associations of demographic and environmental factors with worry toward COVID-19 and general anxiety among people in Taiwan. METHODS In total, 1970 respondents were recruited through a Facebook advertisement and completed an online survey on worry toward COVID-19, general anxiety during the pandemic, and individual and environmental factors. RESULTS In total, 51.7% and 43.4% of respondents reported high levels of worry toward COVID-19 and general anxiety, respectively. Worse self-rated mental health, lower self-confidence in COVID-19 management, and insufficient mental health resources were significantly associated with high levels of both worry toward COVID-19 and general anxiety. Lower perceived confidence in COVID-19 management by the regional government was significantly associated with a higher level of worry toward COVID-19. Lower perceived social support was significantly associated with a higher level of general anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS The results showed that high levels of worry toward COVID-19 and general anxiety were prevalent during the disease outbreak. Multiple individual and environmental factors related to worry toward COVID-19 and general anxiety were identified. CLINICALTRIAL

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Physical Activity Patterns in India Stratified by Zones, Age, Region, BMI and Implications for COVID-19: A Nationwide Study

Annals of Neurosciences ◽

10.1177/0972753121998507 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 097275312199850

Author(s):

Vivek Podder ◽

Raghuram Nagarathna ◽

Akshay Anand ◽

Patil S. Suchitra ◽

Amit Kumar Singh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

World Health Organization ◽

Rural Areas ◽

World Health ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Home Work ◽

The World ◽

Health Organization ◽

Physically Inactive ◽

At Home

Rationale: India has a high prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which can be lowered by regular physical activity. To understand this association, recent population data is required which is representative of all the states and union territories of the country. Objective: We aimed to investigate the patterns of physical activity in India, stratified by zones, body mass index (BMI), urban, rural areas, and gender. Method: We present the analysis of physical activity status from the data collected during the phase 1 of a pan-India study. This ( Niyantrita Madhumeha Bharata 2017) was a multicenter pan-India cluster sampled trial with dual objectives. A survey to identify all individuals at a high risk for diabetes, using a validated instrument called the Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS), was followed by a two-armed randomized yoga-based lifestyle intervention for the primary prevention of diabetes. The physical activity was scored as per IDRS (vigorous exercise or strenuous at work = 0, moderate exercise at home/work = 10, mild exercise at home/work = 20, no exercise = 30). This was done in a selected cluster using a mobile application. A weighted prevalence was calculated based on the nonresponse rate and design weight. Results: We analyzed the data from 2,33,805 individuals; the mean age was 41.4 years (SD 13.4). Of these, 50.6% were females and 49.4% were males; 45.8% were from rural areas and 54% from urban areas. The BMI was 24.7 ± 4.6 kg/m 2 . Briefly, 20% were physically inactive and 57% of the people were either inactive or mildly active. 21.2% of females were found physically inactive, whereas 19.2% of males were inactive. Individuals living in urban localities were proportionately more inactive (21.7% vs. 18.8%) or mildly active (38.9% vs. 34.8%) than the rural people. Individuals from the central (29.6%) and south zones (28.6%) of the country were also relatively inactive, in contrast to those from the northwest zone (14.2%). The known diabetics were found to be physically inactive (28.3% vs. 19.8%) when compared with those unaware of their diabetic status. Conclusion: 20% and 37% of the population in India are not active or mildly active, respectively, and thus 57% of the surveyed population do not meet the physical activity regimen recommended by the World Health Organization. This puts a large Indian population at risk of developing various NCDs, which are being increasingly reported to be vulnerable to COVID-19 infections. India needs to adopt the four strategic objectives recommended by the World Health Organization for reducing the prevalence of physical inactivity.

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The study of Iranian children and adolescents’ physical activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health ◽

10.1515/ijamh-2020-0302 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Adel Alizadeh ◽

Reza Negarandeh ◽

Fahimehe Bagheri Amiri ◽

Zahra Yazdani

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

World Health ◽

Chi Square ◽

The Status ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Health Organization ◽

Iranian Children

Abstract Objectives This systematic and meta-analysis review was conducted to determine the status of Iranian children and adolescents’ physical activity. Content All the related articles which were published in the major databases, including Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Magiran, SID from the beginning of 2010 to the end of 2019, were reviewed by researchers. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was also used to evaluate the quality of articles. Moreover, I 2 index and chi-square were used to assess the heterogeneity between the results. Summary 490 articles were found as a result of the search in the selected international and local databases, where finally, 10 articles were included into the meta-analysis after the elimination of the duplicated articles and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results indicated that 29.5% of the girls were considered active according to WHO criteria (16.1–42.8: 95% CI) and also 20.5% of the boys (7.3–33.7: 95% CI). Outlook Overall, this study’s findings showed that a large percentage of Iranian children and adolescents do not achieve the level of physical activity recommended by the World Health Organization. This can lead to undesirable consequences for this group of population that is considered as the human capital of any country; consequently, it seems necessary to take basic measures at the micro and macro levels in order to reduce such problems in the society.

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Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Sleep and Self-Regulation in Spanish Preschoolers during the COVID-19 Lockdown

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18020693 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 693

Author(s):

Alicia M. Alonso-Martínez ◽

Robinson Ramírez-Vélez ◽

Yesenia García-Alonso ◽

Mikel Izquierdo ◽

Antonio García-Hermoso

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Sedentary Time ◽

Self Regulation ◽

National Level ◽

Global Strategy ◽

World Health ◽

Lifestyle Behaviors ◽

Public Health Response ◽

Validated Questionnaire ◽

Health Organization

Background: A better understanding of the effects of the lockdown on lifestyle behaviors may help to guide the public health response to COVID-19 at a national level and to update the global strategy to respond COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on device-measured physical activity (PA), sedentary time, sleep and self-regulation; and to determine whether PA and sleep are related to self-regulation problems during the lockdown. Methods: PA, sedentary time and sleep were assessed using accelerometry in the week in which the Spanish national state of alarm was declared (n = 21). Parents reported preschooler’s self-regulation difficulties (internalizing and externalizing) before (n = 268) and during the lockdown (n = 157) by a validated questionnaire. Results: Preschoolers showed a decrease in total PA (mean difference [MD] = −43.3 min per day, 95% CI −68.1 to −18.5), sleep efficiency (MD = −2.09%, 95% CI −4.12 to −0.05), an increase in sedentary time (MD = 50.2 min per day, 95% CI 17.1 to 83.3) internalizing (MD = 0.17, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.28) and externalizing (MD = 0.33, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.44) problems. Preschoolers who met the World Health Organization recommendations for PA had lower internalizing scores than non-active peers (MD = −1.28, 95% CI −2.53 to −0.03). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of meeting PA recommendations to reduce psychosocial difficulties during a lockdown situation.

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Reflections on FDA and WHO recommendations concerning clinical trials

Psychiatry and Psychobiology ◽

10.1017/s0767399x00002960 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 117-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J.-F. Dreyfus ◽

D. Cremniter ◽

J.D. Guelfi

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Drug Users ◽

Objective Evaluation ◽

World Health ◽

Measuring Instruments ◽

New Techniques ◽

The Usa ◽

The One ◽

Health Organization

SummaryWe are still confronted by numerous different nosographic models and problems concerning the objective evaluation of patients progress during treatment. It is interesting to consider the consequences of this situation in psychiatry which still involves a relative diversity of practical methods used in clinical trials. The recommendations of the USA Food and Drug Administration, on the one hand, constitute a highly structured and precise reference. The World Health Organization, on the other hand, promulgates general recommendations resulting from a compromise designed to satisfy the greatest number of clinicians.Despite the apparently diverse principles and the different practical methods they propose, both those sets of recommendations have been useful in inspiring clinicians to reflect upon these different methodological approaches. The qualities of the inclusion criteria used in the study of patients and the sensitivity of the different measuring instruments have allowed psychotropic drug users as well as producers to recognize the need for a certain rigour in clinical trials.The FDA and WHO guidelines have certainly improved the quality of clinical trials in psychopharmacology. However, they also represent a source of resistance to innovation.A series of consensus meetings to first reconcile US and European points of view and later to include new techniques in the recognized sets of methods would therefore be helpful.

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Prevalence of and factors associated with insufficient physical activity among adolescents: evidence from a nationwide survey in Bangladesh

Journal of Biosocial Science ◽

10.1017/s0021932021000316 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Md Mokbul Hossain ◽

Fahmida Akter ◽

Abu Abdullah Mohammad Hanif ◽

Md Showkat Ali Khan ◽

Abu Ahmed Shamim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

World Health Organization ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

World Health ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Adolescent Girls And Boys ◽

The World ◽

Insufficient Physical Activity ◽

Health Organization

Abstract The World Health Organization set a target of a 15% relative reduction in the prevalence of insufficient physical activity (IPA) by 2025 among adolescents and adults globally. In Bangladesh, there are no national estimates of the prevalence of IPA among adolescents. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of and risk factors associated with IPA among adolescent girls and boys. Data for 4865 adolescent girls and 4907 adolescent boys, collected as a part of a National Nutrition Surveillance in 2018–19, were analysed for this study. A modified version of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to collect physical activity data. The World Health Organization recommended cut-off points were used to estimate the prevalence of IPA. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with IPA. Prevalences of IPA among adolescent girls and boys were 50.3% and 29.0%, respectively, and the prevalence was significantly higher among early adolescents (10–14 years) than late adolescents (15–19 years) among both boys and girls. The IPA prevalence was highest among adolescents living in non-slum urban areas (girls: 77.7%; boys: 64.1%). For both boys and girls, younger age, non-slum urban residence, higher paternal education and increased television viewing time were significantly associated with IPA. Additionally, residing in slums was significantly associated with IPA only among the boys. Higher maternal education was associated with IPA only among the girls. This study identified several modifiable risk factors associated with IPA among adolescent boys and girls in Bangladesh. These factors should be addressed through comprehensive public health interventions to promote physical activity among adolescent girls and boys.

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