Convergent and criterion-related validity of the short form of the International Physical Activity and the Incidental and Planned Physical Activity Questionnaires in people with multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Assessing physical activity (PA) in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) is essential to follow-up the recommended PA level. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Incidental and Planned Exercise Questionnaire (IPEQ) have been widely used, but their validity has not been investigated previously in PwMS. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the convergent and criterion validity of the IPAQ and the IPEQ in PwMS. METHODS: 50 PwMS were asked to wear an Actigraph for seven days and to fill the IPAQ and IPEQ. Sedentary, moderate (MPA), vigorous (VPA) and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) levels were recorded. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between sitting time as reported by IPAQ and sedentary time as recorded by Actigraph (r = 0.41, p = 0.003), VPA by IPAQ and VPA as recorded by Actigraph (r = 0.46, p = 0.001), and MVPA by IPAQ and MVPA by Actigraph (r = 0.36, p = 0.011). IPEQ showed poor both criterion and convergent validity when compared to the Actigraph. Both IPAQ and IPEQ overestimate the intensities of PA for all the derived parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study are important as they suggest that IPAQ in particular had convergent validity when compared to Actigraph data, but still had the problem of overestimating PA levels.

Test-retest reliability of physical activity questionnaires in Parkinson’s disease

Background People with Parkinson’s disease are less physically active than controls. It is important to promote physical activity, which can be assessed using different methods. Subjective measures include physical activity questionnaires, which are easy and cheap to administer in clinical practice. Knowledge of the psychometric properties of physical activity questionnaires for people with Parkinson’s disease is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of physical activity questionnaires in individuals with Parkinson’s disease without cognitive impairment. Methods Forty-nine individuals with Parkinson’s disease without cognitive impairment participated in a test-retest reliability study. At two outpatient visits 8 days apart, the participants completed comprehensive questionnaires and single-item questions: International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), Saltin-Grimby Physical Activity Level Scale (SGPALS) and Health on Equal Terms (HOET). Test-retest reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), limits of agreement, weighted kappa or the Svensson method. Results Several of the physical activity questionnaires had relatively low test-retest reliability, including the comprehensive questionnaires (IPAQ-SF and PASE). Total physical activity according to IPAQ-SF had an ICC value of 0.46 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21–0.66) and SEM was 2891 MET-min/week. The PASE total score had an ICC value of 0.66 (95% CI, 0.46–0.79), whereas the SEM was 30 points. The single-item scales of SGPALS-past six months (SGPALS-6 m) and HOET question 1 (HOET-q1) with longer time frames (6 or 12 months, respectively) showed better results. Weighted kappa values were 0.64 (95% CI, 0.45–0.83) for SGPALS-6 m and 0.60 (95% CI, 0.39–0.80) for HOET-q1, whereas the single-item questions with a shorter recall period had kappa values < 0.40. Conclusions Single-item questions with a longer time frame (6 or 12 months) for physical activity were shown to be more reliable than multi-item questionnaires such as the IPAQ-SF and PASE in individuals with Parkinson’s disease without cognitive impairments. There is a need to develop a core outcome set to measure physical activity in people with Parkinson’s disease, and there might be a need to develop new physical activity questionnaires.

Provisional Designation of the Interleukin-6 Receptor (IL-6R) as a Novel Marker Gene for Exercise Tolerance

Objectives: Genomic markers linked to exercise-associated health benefits and/or sporting performance are increasingly used to guide decision-making in healthcare and sport/exercise science. This project investigated whether the IL-6R SNP “rs2228145” might be provisionally designated a novel physical activity/exercise marker. rs2228145 results in an Aspartate358/Alanine358 change adjacent to the site where the IL-6R protein is cleaved into two fragments, resulting in ~two-fold increases in blood-borne levels of soluble IL-6R [‘sIL-6R’].Methods: Cohorts of staff/students at Cardiff Metropolitan University donated/completed: [i] finger-prick capillary blood samples (subjected to ELISAs for sIL-6R, the associated signalling protein sgp130, and the IL-6/sIL-6R complex); [ii] cheek-swab samples containing buccal epithelial cell DNA (subjected to PCR-based IL-6R/rs2228145 genotyping assays); [iii] International Physical Activity Questionnaires (to estimate physical activity levels in the week preceding sample donation).Results: As expected, we observed significant genotype-dependent differences in blood-borne sIL-6R levels (CC (44.1±21.7ng/mL) vs. AC (28.6±7.3ng/mL) vs. AA (19.9±6.5ng/mL; P<0.05)); Importantly, AA homozygotes undertook significantly more physical activity than AC heterozygotes (6318±899 v. 3904±2280 MET-mins/week; P<0.01). Genotype was significantly associated with physical activity levels (P<0.05), and sIL-6R (P=0.197) and sgp130 (P=0.160) showed non-significant correlations with physical activity levels.Conclusions: These data suggest that IL-6R/rs2228145 genotype may influence participation in physical activity/exercise, perhaps by impacting on abilities to tolerate activity without experiencing adverse-effects. Although more research is required to confirm these preliminary findings, designation of IL-6R/rs2228145 as a novel marker, and determination of participants’ IL-6R/rs2228145 genotypes, may in future be useful tools to aid exercise-providers in designing personalised exercise programmes matched to clients/patients.

Fine Arts as a Means of Developing Creative Activity in Younger Adolescents

The role of fine arts in the process of developing pupils’ creative activity remains insufficiently studied. This is especially true for the specifics of developing a values-based attitude towards any kind of creative activity in the representatives of such a complex age group as younger adolescents. The paper aims to develop and experimentally verify the methodology for developing creative activity in younger adolescents using fine arts in the educational process of secondary schools based on theoretical justification of the problem of the individual’s creative activity. This methodology was aimed at implementing a holistic set of creativity exercises, partial searching and artistic creativity tasks and a variable model for organizing the actions in the form of “the projection of desire”. The control and experimental groups involved the same number of younger adolescents, namely, 143 respondents, whose indicators of development levels of creative activity did not differ significantly. Different methods were used to identify the level of creative activity: questionnaires, interviews, conversations, pedagogical observations, partial searching, multi-level artistic creativity tasks and creativity exercises. The level of creative activity in younger adolescents in the experimental group has increased: a prospective level - by 9.1% (from 7% to 16.1%), a differentiated level - by 5.6% (from 51.7% to 57.3%). A situational level has decreased by 14.7% (from 41.3% to 26.6%). All the obtained data differ from the tabular ones for the selected high level of statistical significance (0.01<p<0.05), which indicates the effectiveness of the developed methodology for developing creative activity in younger adolescents using fine arts in the educational process of secondary schools.

Physical Activity and Successful Pregnancy in 6 Months: A Finding from the Pregnancy and Urban Environment Study

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the association between physical activity and pregnancy in 6 months among infertile women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF).Methods: The participants included in this study were infertile women who underwent IVF at Cha Fertility Center in Seoul Station from October 2019 to February 2020. Of 132 women who agreed to participate in the study, one was eliminated for omitting the exercise questionnaire. A survey assessing the level of physical activity of infertile women was conducted using the Korean version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaires. We calculated metabolic equivalent task-minutes (MET-min) scores and obtained their IVF results after 6 months of the survey. Participants with less than 3,000 MET-min were classified into the minimally active group, and those with ≥3,000 MET-min were classified as the healthenhancing group. The 2 groups were compared based on age, anti-Müllerian hormone levels, body mass index, infertility duration, nulliparity, harmful alcohol drinking, history of smoking, obesity, male factors, and pregnancy rates. Adjusted relative risk for pregnancy was calculated using log-binomial regression analysis.Results: There was no significant difference in basal characteristics between the less active and health-enhancing groups. When controlling for all covariates, the relative risk for pregnancy was close to null with health-enhancing activity. The adjusted pregnancy rate decreased with increasing MET-min in the generalized additive model.Conclusion: We observed no positive association between physical activity and pregnancy rate among interfile women undergoing IVF. To confirm our findings, subsequent interventional studies would be needed.

Validity and Reliability of IPAQ-SF and GPAQ for Assessing Sedentary Behaviour in Adults in the European Union: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Current lifestyles are marked by sedentary behaviour; thus, it is of great importance for policymaking to have valid and reliable tools to measure sedentary behaviour in order to combat it. Therefore, the aim of this review and meta-analysis is to critically review, assess, and compile the reliability, criterion validity, and construct validity of the single-item sedentary behaviour questions within national language versions of most commonly used international physical activity questionnaires for adults in the European Union: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. A total of 1749 records were screened, 287 full-text papers were read, and 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results and quality of studies were evaluated by the Quality Assessment of Physical Activity Questionnaires checklist. Meta-analysis indicated moderate to high reliability (rw = 0.59) and concurrent validity (rw = 0.55) of national language versions of single-item sedentary behaviour questions. Criterion validity was rather low (rw = 0.23) but in concordance with previous studies. The risk of bias analysis highlighted the poor reporting of methods and results, with a total bias score of 0.42. Thus, we recommend using multi-item SB questionnaires and smart trackers for providing information on SB rather than single-item sedentary behaviour questions in physical activity questionnaires.

Penerapan Face Shield Bagi Tenaga Medis Untuk Menangani Pasien Covid-19 di Kota Batu Jawa Timur

The purpose of this activity is to assist the government in providing and distributing face shields for medical personnel at referral hospitals to treat covid-19 patients. At first we analyzed the problems with partners (hospitals and community health centers). The results of the analysis show that hospitals and health centers lack a helmet-face shield for medical personnel to treat covid-19 patients. Based on the results of discussions and requests from the partner. Then the design is carried out to manufacture a helmet-face shield. There are 2 PPE made, The first type is only a face shield and the second type is obtained a helmet design that is equipped with a face shield or can be called a helmet-face shield. At the end of the activity, questionnaires were distributed to respondents consisting of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel. Respondents were selected randomly in health facilities in Batu, East Java. The response from medical personnel has generally been positive. This can be seen from the questionnaires distributed to respondents. More than 90% of the results of the questionnaire stated that helmet-face shield and face shield products could be accepted by health workers.

Project-Based Activity as a Mechanism of Reflection Development in Students of Psychology and Education Studies

Purpose of the study: to theoretically substantiate and experimentally test the system of organizational and pedagogical conditions of project designing, which is regarded as a mechanism for creating the reflecting thinking in the students of psychology and education. The research uses the methods of theoretical review and analysis of psychological and pedagogical literature related to the subject, expert view on the development of students’ reflective abilities following a theoretical and systemic model of reflection and statistical data processing. We have theoretically stated and experimentally confirmed that project activity is a mechanism for the development of such reflection components as creativity, pattern construction and objectification, provided that the project’s concept includes formulation and solution of divergent tasks by the project participants; implementation involves work on a strategy and tactics of cooperation between all the project participants; and the results are realized by all participants in the process of joint and objective assessment. A formative experiment has been carried out and resulted in identification of the requirements for the project activities’ organization among the students majoring in psychology and education, there have been revealed conditions contributing to their reflective activity; questionnaires for expert assessment and monitoring the development of reflection during the project activities have been created, theoretically supported and tested. Novelty is determined by insufficient study of the development of reflection in the process of project activities designed by the students of psychology and education field

Physical Activity and Body Mass Index Status of Elderly in Serang Banten Province

Physical inactivity is considered one of the health problems associated with many types of chronic diseases. The level of physical activity is often used as a parameter for monitoring and evaluation of public health. This monitoring is very important because it helps prevent various illnesses, inactivity and decrease mortality rates for the elderly. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of physical activity and BMI of the elderly in Serang City. The research method used is a qualitative descriptive method, involving 84 elderly from Serang and Cipocok Jaya districts in Serang City, Banten Province. The level of physical activity was obtained through the International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ) questionnaire. The results showed that the elderly in Serang City had low physical activity with a METs value of 438.6 and had a BMI of 26.4 which was in the obese or obese category. the elderly in Kota Serang have low physical activity and are in the category of obesity or overweight. This research can be used as initial data for related institutions regarding the condition of the elderly in Serang so that it can create activities that have a positive impact on the elderly in Serang City.