Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Validation of a New Physical Activity Questionnaire for a Sedentary Population

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Many available physical activity questionnaires (PAQs) are limited due to either focus on recreational activities or burdensome length.

Aims

We sought to assess the reliability and validity of a new short PAQ that captures all activity types.

Methods

The 12-item multiple-choice PAQ-M included eight activity domains, providing a total Physical Activity Score (PAS-M) in kcal/kg/week. The new PAQ-M was administered with the previously validated Paffenbarger PAQ to 426 men, ages 50–79, undergoing colon-cancer screening.

Results

The PAQ-M had excellent test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.87). The PAS-M was moderately correlated with the Paffenbarger Physical Activity Score (PAS-P) (r = 0.31) and inversely correlated with BMI (r = −0.14) and waist circumference (r = −0.17). Adenoma prevalence was inversely associated with the PAS-M (3rd vs. 1st tertile adjusted odds ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.26–0.84) but not with the PAS-P.

Conclusions

Our new short physical activity questionnaire has excellent test–retest reliability, and was correlated moderately with a widely used physical activity questionnaire and obesity measures. Furthermore, the new PAQ was a better predictor of adenoma prevalence in the expected direction than the Paffenbarger questionnaire in this largely sedentary population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

CI:

Confidence interval

CT:

Computed tomogram

CV:

Coefficient of variation

HOMA-IR:

Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance

IQR:

Interquartile range

MET:

Metabolic equivalent

OR:

Odds ratio

PAQ-M:

Morgenstern physical activity questionnaire

PAQ-P:

Paffenbarger physical activity questionnaire

PAS-M:

Morgenstern physical activity score

PAS-P:

Paffenbarger physical activity score

TES-M:

Morgenstern total energy score

References

  1. Lee IM, ed. Epidemiologic Methods in Physical Activity Studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pereira MA, FitzerGerald SJ, Gregg EW, et al. A collection of physical activity questionnaires for health-related research. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;29:S1–S205.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Jacobs DR Jr, Ainsworth BE, Hartman TJ, Leon AS. A simultaneous evaluation of 10 commonly used physical activity questionnaires. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;25:81–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ainsworth BE, Leon AS, Richardson MT, Jacobs DR, Paffenbarger RS Jr. Accuracy of the college alumnus physical activity questionnaire. J Clin Epidemiol. 1993;46:1403–1411.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Washburn RA, Smith KW, Goldfield SR, McKinlay JB. Reliability and physiologic correlates of the Harvard alumni activity survey in a general population. J Clin Epidemiol. 1991;44:1319–1326.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Paffenbarger RS Jr, Wing AL, Hyde RT. Physical activity as an index of heart attack risk in college alumni. Am J Epidemiol. 1978;108:161–175.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Paffenbarger RS Jr, Wing AL, Hyde RT, Jung DL. Physical activity and incidence of hypertension in college alumni. Am J Epidemiol. 1983;117:245–257.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Anthropometry Procedures Manual. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control; 2004. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/nhanes_03_04/BM.pdf.

  9. Varia I, Logue E, O’Connor C, et al. Randomized trial of sertraline in patients with unexplained chest pain of noncardiac origin. Am Heart J. 2000;140:367–372.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Peghini PL, Katz PO, Castell DO. Imipramine decreases oesophageal pain perception in human male volunteers. Gut. 1998;42:807–813.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Matthews DR, Hosker JP, Rudenski AS, Naylor BA, Treacher DF, Turner RC. Homeostasis model assessment: Insulin resistance and beta-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man. Diabetologia. 1985;28:412–419.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Leon AS, et al. Compendium of physical activities: classification of energy costs of human physical activities. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;25:71–80.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Bassett DR, Vachon JA, Kirkland AO, Howley ET, Duncan GE, Johnson KR. Energy cost of stair climbing and descending on the college alumnus questionnaire. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;29:1250–1254.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Shrout PE, Fleiss JL. Intraclass correlations—uses in assessing rater reliability. Psychol Bull. 1979;86:420–428.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Calton BA, Lacey JV Jr, Schatzkin A, et al. Physical activity and the risk of colon cancer among women: a prospective cohort study (United States). Int J Cancer. 2006;119:385–391.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Emmons KM, McBride CM, Puleo E, et al. Prevalence and predictors of multiple behavioral risk factors for colon cancer. Prev Med. 2005;40:527–534.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Giovannucci E, Ascherio A, Rimm EB, Colditz GA, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC. Physical activity, obesity, and risk for colon cancer and adenoma in men. Ann Intern Med. 1995;122:327–334.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Hou L, Ji BT, Blair A, et al. Commuting physical activity and risk of colon cancer in Shanghai, China. Am J Epidemiol. 2004;160:860–867.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Juarranz M, Calle-Puron ME, Gonzalez-Navarro A, et al. Physical exercise, use of Plantago ovata and aspirin, and reduced risk of colon cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2002;11:465–472.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Larsen IK, Grotmol T, Almendingen K, et al. Lifestyle as a predictor for colonic neoplasia in asymptomatic individuals. BMC Gastroenterol. 2006;6:5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Larsson SC, Rutegard J, Bergkvist L, et al. Physical activity, obesity, and risk of colon and rectal cancer in a cohort of Swedish men. Eur J Cancer. 2006;42:2590–2597.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Steindorf K, Jedrychowski W, Schmidt M, et al. Case-control study of lifetime occupational and recreational physical activity and risks of colon and rectal cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2005;14:363–371.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. White E, Jacobs EJ, Daling JR. Physical activity in relation to colon cancer in middle-aged men and women. Am J Epidemiol. 1996;144:42–50.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Wolin KY, Lee IM, Colditz GA, et al. Leisure-time physical activity patterns and risk of colon cancer in women. Int J Cancer. 2007;121:2776–2781.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

There are no potential competing personal interests for any of the authors. JHR was funded in part by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Gordon Family Clinical Investigatorship (CI-36-07), and by the National Institutes of Health (K23 DK079291). JMI was funded by the National Institutes of Health (K24 DK080941) and PS was funded by the National Institutes of Health (K24DK084208).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. VA Medical Center 111-D, 2215 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA

    Joel H. Rubenstein

  2. Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Joel H. Rubenstein & Philip Schoenfeld

  3. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Joel H. Rubenstein, Joan Kellenberg, Tal Kalish, Jena Donovan & Philip Schoenfeld

  4. Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Hal Morgenstern & Daniel McConnell

  5. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA, USA

    John Inadomi

  6. Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Jadranka Stojanovska

Authors
  1. Joel H. Rubenstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hal Morgenstern
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joan Kellenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tal Kalish
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jena Donovan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. John Inadomi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Daniel McConnell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jadranka Stojanovska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Philip Schoenfeld
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joel H. Rubenstein.

Appendix: Physical-Activity Questionnaire

Appendix: Physical-Activity Questionnaire

On average, how many hours per week do you spend in each of the following types of recreational activities and exercises?

On average, how many hours per week do you spend in each of the following types of home or work activities and chores?

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rubenstein, J.H., Morgenstern, H., Kellenberg, J. et al. Validation of a New Physical Activity Questionnaire for a Sedentary Population. Dig Dis Sci 56, 2678–2687 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-011-1641-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-011-1641-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation