scholarly journals Reliability and Validity of Slovenian Versions of IPAQ-SF, GPAQ and EHIS-PAQ for Assessing Physical Activity and Sedentarism of Adults

Author(s):  
Kaja Meh ◽  
Vedrana Sember ◽  
Saša Đurić ◽  
Henri Vähä-Ypyä ◽  
Paulo Rocha ◽  
...  

Health policies rely on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior data collected through PA questionnaires (PAQs). Validity of international PAQs varies among countries. Therefore, it is important to know the validity of the national versions of the PAQs to properly evaluate the results. We conducted a validation study of the Slovenian versions of the International PAQ Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the Global PAQ (GPAQ), and the PAQ used in the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS-PAQ) on 306 healthy adults. The most valid and reliable constructs in all tested were sedentary behavior and vigorous PA (VPA), however the criterion validity of these constructs was low (Spearman’s ρ 0.38–0.45 for sedentary behavior and 0.34–0.42 for VPA). Moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) had low validity (0.26–0.29) despite being used as a standard measure of PA behavior. Participants over-reported MVPA for 17 to 156 min and underreported the sedentary behavior for more than two hours. The test-retest study found high reliability for sedentary behavior (0.69–0.81) and low to moderate reliability for PA behavior (0.42–0.76). The Slovenian versions of the observed PAQs are a useful tool for national PA surveillance, but for qualitative assessment of individual health-related PA behavior they should be combined with accelerometer-based devices.

Author(s):  
Jason A. Bennie ◽  
Glen H. Wiesner

Background: Compared with engaging in aerobic physical activity (aerobic PA; eg, walking, running, cycling) or muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE; eg, weight/resistance training) alone, epidemiological evidence suggests that combining both is linked to better health. However, the assessment of both PA modes is rare in health surveillance. This article provides the first multicountry study on the descriptive epidemiology of combined moderate to vigorous PA–MSE guideline adherence. Methods: Data were drawn from the European Health Interview Survey wave 2 (2013–2014), comprising samples from 28 European countries (n = 280,605). Self-reported aerobic PA and MSE were assessed using the validated European Health Interview Survey Physical Activity Questionnaire. The authors calculated the weighted proportions meeting the health-enhancing PA guideline (aerobic PA ≥ 150 min/wk and MSE ≥ 2 sessions/wk). Poisson regression assessed the prevalence ratios for meeting the combined guideline across sociodemographic factors and by country. Results: A total of 15.0% met the health-enhancing PA guideline. The lowest prevalence was from respondents from Southern and Central European countries (Romania, Poland, and Croatia, range: 0.5%–5.7%). Poorer self-rated health, older age, lower income, being female, and being obese had a lower likelihood of meeting the combined guideline. Conclusions: Most European adults do not meet the health-enhancing PA guideline that includes both aerobic PA and MSE.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0242220
Author(s):  
Jason A. Bennie ◽  
Katrien De Cocker ◽  
Jordan J. Smith ◽  
Glen H. Wiesner

Objective Muscle-strengthening exercise (use of weight machines, free weights, push-ups, sit-ups), has multiple independent health benefits, and is a component of the Global physical activity guidelines. However, there is currently a lack of multi-country muscle-strengthening exercise prevalence studies. This study describes the prevalence and correlates of muscle-strengthening exercise across multiple European countries. Methods Data were drawn from the European Health Interview Survey Wave 2 (2013–14), which included nationally representative samples (n = 3,774–24,016) from 28 European countries. Muscle-strengthening exercise was assessed using the European Health Interview Survey Physical Activity Questionnaire. Population-weighted proportions were calculated for (1) “insufficient” (0–1 days/week) or (2) “sufficient” muscle-strengthening exercise (≥2 days/week). Prevalence ratios were calculated using multivariate Poisson regression for those reporting sufficient muscle-strengthening by country and by sociodemographic/lifestyle characteristics (sex, age, education, income, self-rated health etc.). Results Data were available for 280,605 European adults aged ≥18 years. Overall, 17.3% (95% CI = 17.1%-17.5%) reported sufficient muscle-strengthening exercise (≥2 days/week). Muscle-strengthening exercise was geographically patterned with the lowest prevalence reported in South-eastern European countries (Romania, Malta and Cyprus: range: 0.7%-7.4%), and the highest prevalence in the Nordic countries (Iceland, Sweden, and Denmark: range: 34.1%-51.6%). Older age, insufficient aerobic activity, poorer self-rated health, lower income/education, being female, and being overweight/obese were significantly associated with lower likelihood of reporting sufficient muscle-strengthening exercise, independently of other characteristics. Conclusions Most European adults do not report sufficient muscle-strengthening exercise, and prevalence estimates varied considerably across countries. Low participation in muscle-strengthening exercise is widespread across Europe, and warrants public health attention.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2156
Author(s):  
Nour Mahrouseh ◽  
Carlos Alexandre Soares Andrade ◽  
Nóra Kovács ◽  
Diana Wangeshi Njuguna ◽  
Orsolya Varga

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a high-risk non-communicable disease with an emerging burden for the European Union (EU) member states in the past decades. The unfavorable trend of the burden is striking compared to the declining disease burden due to cardiovascular diseases or stagnation of neoplasms. The goal of this study is to describe the temporal changes of diabetes in the adult population of Slovakia through the three European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) waves and to assess the association between DM and socioeconomic and/or lifestyle characteristics. These cross-sectional studies were carried out using microdata derived from Slovakia’s EHISs conducted in the years 2009 (n = 4972), 2014 (n = 5490), and 2019 (n = 5527). The DM variable was compared to the independent variables such as sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics including dietary patterns and physical activity. DM prevalence for the EHIS in 2009, 2014, and 2019 were 6.1%, 8.2%, and 9.8%, respectively. In bivariate analysis, the relationship between DM and age, education level, job status, BMI, walking for at least 10 min, and physical activity was significant in the three EHISs. In 2014 and 2019, there was an inverse association between the risk of DM and walking regularly. There was no association between the frequency of eating fruits or vegetables and DM, with the exception of 2009, where a negative association between eating vegetables one to six times a week and DM was observed. Present health policies and activities in Slovakia were unable to reverse the increasing DM burden, indicating that a more systematic approach is needed. Complex policy strategies and legislative measures must be developed and implemented at both the national and EU levels.


2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (26) ◽  
pp. 1023-1030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Martos ◽  
Viktória Anna Kovács ◽  
Márta Bakacs ◽  
Csilla Kaposvári ◽  
Andrea Lugasi

Obesity is a leading public health problem, but representative data on measured prevalence among Hungarian adults has been missing since the late eighties. Aim and method: Joining in European Health Interview Survey the aim of the OTAP2009 study was to provide data representative by age and gender on the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity among Hungarian adults based on their measured anthropometric data. Results: Participation rate was 35% (n = 1165). Data shows that nearly two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese. 26.2% of men and 30.4% of women are obese. Prevalence of morbid obesity is 3.1% and 2.6% in men and women, respectively. Abdominal obesity is more prevalent among women than men (51.0% vs. 33.2%), and rate is increasing parallel with age in both gender. In elderly, 55% of men and almost 80% of women are abdominally obese. Conclusions: Besides interventions of population level for tackling obesity, individual preventive measures are indispensable. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 1023–1030.


2021 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-96
Author(s):  
Hsin-Yen Yen ◽  
Hao-Yun Huang

Aims: Wearable devices are a new strategy for promoting physical activity in a free-living condition that utilizes self-monitoring, self-awareness, and self-determination. The main purpose of this study was to explore health benefits of commercial wearable devices by comparing physical activity, sedentary time, sleep quality, and other health outcomes between individuals who used and those that did not use commercial wearable devices. Methods: The research design was a cross-sectional study using an Internet survey in Taiwan. Self-administered questionnaires included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile, and World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale. Results: In total, 781 participants were recruited, including 50% who were users of wearable devices and 50% non-users in the most recent 3 months. Primary outcomes revealed that wearable device users had significantly higher self-reported walking, moderate physical activity, and total physical activity, and significantly lower sedentary time than non-users. Wearable device users had significantly better sleep quality than non-users. Conclusion: Wearable devices inspire users’ motivation, engagement, and interest in physical activity through habit formation. Wearable devices are recommended to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary behavior for promoting good health.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e048860
Author(s):  
Valerie Moran ◽  
Marc Suhrcke ◽  
Maria Ruiz-Castell ◽  
Jessica Barré ◽  
Laetitia Huiart

ObjectivesWe investigate the prevalence of unmet need arising from wait times, distance/transportation and financial affordability using the European Health Interview Survey. We explore associations between individual characteristics and the probability of reporting unmet need.DesignCross-sectional survey conducted between February and December 2014.Setting and participants4004 members of the resident population in private households registered with the health insurance fund in Luxembourg aged 15 years and over.Outcome measuresSix binary variables that measured unmet need arising from wait time, distance/transportation and affordability of medical, dental and mental healthcare and prescribed medicines among those who reported a need for care.ResultsThe most common barrier to access arose from wait times (32%) and the least common from distance/transportation (4%). Dental care (12%) was most often reported as unaffordable, followed by prescribed medicines (6%), medical (5%) and mental health (5%) care. Respondents who reported bad/very bad health were associated with a higher risk of unmet need compared with those with good/very good health (wait: OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.53 to 3.80, distance/transportation: OR 7.12, 95% CI 2.91 to 17.44, afford medical care: OR 5.35, 95% CI 2.39 to 11.95, afford dental care: OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.86 to 5.71, afford prescribed medicines: OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.71, afford mental healthcare: OR 3.58, 95% CI 1.25 to 10.30). Income between the fourth and fifth quintiles was associated with a lower risk of unmet need for dental care (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.53), prescribed medicines (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.82) and mental healthcare (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.61) compared with income between the first and second quintiles.ConclusionsRecent and planned reforms to address waiting times and financial barriers to accessing healthcare may help to address unmet need. In addition, policy-makers should consider additional policies targeted at high-risk groups with poor health and low incomes.


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