Validity of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire in the Arctic

Purpose: Information about physical activity (PA) in Greenland is limited, partly because of a lack of validated instruments in countries with non-Western living conditions. We modified the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-L) to arctic living conditions. The aim o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
Main Authors: Dahl-Petersen, Inger Katrine, Hansen, Andreas Wolf, Bjerregaard, Peter, Jørgensen, Marit Eika, Brage, Søren
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2013
Subjects:
Accelerometry
Adolescent
Adult
Arctic Regions
Female
Greenland
Heart Rate
Humans
Inuits
Male
Middle Aged
Motor Activity/physiology
Physical Exertion/physiology
Surveys and Questionnaires/standards
Young Adult
Arctic
inuit
inuits
Online Access:https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/da/publications/a992852f-d9d6-4bd9-8f64-65064852cf29
https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e31827a6b40
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Summary:Purpose: Information about physical activity (PA) in Greenland is limited, partly because of a lack of validated instruments in countries with non-Western living conditions. We modified the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-L) to arctic living conditions. The aim of the study was to compare IPAQ-L estimates with combined accelerometry and heart rate monitoring (ACC + HR) in a populationbased study of adult Inuit in Greenland. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected by face-to-face interview and ACC + HR monitoring among Inuit (18 yr and above) in Greenland during 2005-2010 (n = 1508). PA energy expenditure (PAEE) and time spent sedentary and on PA at moderate and vigorous intensity were derived from IPAQ-L and ACC + HR. Estimates were compared using Bland-Altman agreement analysis and Spearman correlations stratified by sex, place of residence (capital, towns, and villages), and age groups. Results: Questionnaire-based PAEEwasmoderately correlatedwith objectivelymeasured PAEE (r = 0.20-0.35, P < 0.01). Self-reported time spent at moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA and time spent sedentary were weakly correlated with the objective measure (r = 0.11-0.31). Agreement analyses showed relatively small median differences for all measures of PA; however, time spent at moderate-intensity PA was substantially overreported by IPAQ-L when including walking (>1.5 h·d -1 , P < 0.001) but not when excluding walking. Conclusions: The IPAQ-L adapted to arctic living conditions in Greenland had a moderate level of agreement with combined accelerometry and heart rate monitoring for total PAEE at population level, but it was less valid to measure different intensities of PA and sedentary activity. Validity did not differ markedly between rural and urban communities.

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