Abstract
Background
Culturally acceptable and validated instruments for assessing physical activity among Indigenous Peoples are lacking. Given the current trends in obesity, health behaviour surveillance tools are needed to evaluate trends and to determine the effectiveness of health promotion efforts aimed at curbing the obesity epidemic.
Objective
To evaluate whether the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) scores correlate with anthropometric indices in an Iiyiyiu Aschii community (Cree Territory of northern Québec, Canada).
Methods
A cross-sectional study was carried out in a Cree community as part of a larger research effort entitled, “Nituuchischaayihitaau Aschii: A Multi-Community Environment-and-Health Longitudinal Study in Iiyiyiu Aschii”. Randomly selected adult participants (n=161) underwent an anthropometric assessment and answered the IPAQ which was administered by bilingual research assistants. Concurrent validity of the IPAQ was evaluated by the extent to which the physical activity scores were related to anthropometric measures.
Results
Significant inverse correlations were observed between the IPAQ Total MET score and % body fat (r = -.19, p=0.01) and the IPAQ Vigorous MET score and % body fat (r = -.26, p=0.001), but not for waist circumference or BMI. Walkers (6–7 days/wk for =60 minutes/day), however, had a waist circumference that was, on average, 5 cm smaller than non-walkers in age- and sex-adjusted linear regression analyses (ß=-4.97; SE=2.5; p=0.05).
Discussion
The results indicate that the IPAQ holds promise as a culturally adaptable questionnaire for the Iiyiyiuch. However, modifications will help improve its acceptability for community members.
Résumé
Contexte
On manque d’instruments culturellement acceptables et validés pour analyser l’activité physique chez les peuples indigènes. Il faudrait disposer d’outils de surveillance des habitudes de santé pour évaluer les tendances actuelles de l’obésité et déterminer l’efficacité des mesures de promotion de la santé qui visent à freiner l’épidémie d’obésité.
Objectif
Déterminer si les scores obtenus au questionnaire international d’activité physique (IPAQ) présentent une corrélation avec les indices anthropométriques dans l’Iiyiyiu Aschii (un territoire cri du Nord du Québec, au Canada).
Méthode
Nous avons mené une étude transversale dans une communauté crie dans le cadre d’une étude plus vaste intitulée « Nituuchischaayihitaau Aschii: A Multi-Community Environment-and-Health Longitudinal Study in Iiyiyiu Aschii ». Des participants d’âge adulte sélectionnés au hasard (n=161) ont fait l’objet d’une évaluation anthropométrique et répondu aux questions de l’IPAQ, |lequel a été administré par des adjoints à la recherche bilingues. Pour évaluer la validité concourante de l’IPAQ, |nous avons calculé le niveau d’association entre les scores d’activité physique et les mesures anthropométriques.
Résultats
Des corrélations inverses significatives ont été observées entre le score total selon l’IPAQ et le pourcentage d’adiposité (r=-0,19, p=0,01) et entre le score d’activité physique intense selon l’IPAQ et le pourcentage d’adiposité (r=-0,26, p=0,001), mais les corrélations observées à l’égard du périmètre ombilical ou de l’IMC n’étaient pas significatives. Cependant, les marcheurs (6 ou 7 jours/sem à =60 min/jour) avaient un périmètre ombilical qui mesurait en moyenne 5 cm de moins que les non-marcheurs selon les analyses de régression linéaires rajustées selon l’âge et le sexe (ß=-4,97; erreur-type=2,5; p=0,05).
Analyse
L’IPAQ est prometteur en tant qu’outil pouvant être adapté à la culture des populations de l’Iiyiyiu Aschii. Des modifications contribueraient toutefois à améliorer son acceptabilité pour les résidents.
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Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledge the Nituuchischaayihitaau Aschii Study Group and community participants. This work has been made possible through funding provided by the Niskamoon Corporation as well as various in-kind contributions from the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay, the Public Health Research Unit of Centre Hospitalier Universitaire du Québec, pavillon CHUL, McMaster University and the Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment, McGill University.
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Egeland, G.M., Dénommé, D., Lejeune, P. et al. Concurrent Validity of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in an Iiyiyiu Aschii (Cree) Community. Can J Public Health 99, 307–310 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403761
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403761