Comparison of activity levels using the Caltrac accelerometer and five questionnaires

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994 Mar;26(3):376-82.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the physical activity levels of physical therapists using five activity questionnaires and one electronic motion sensor (Caltrac). Thirty-three physical therapists (26 female, seven male) were monitored for seven consecutive days. The Caltrac data were compared with five questionnaires, including the Baecke (Baecke); Godin and Shephard (Godin); Ross and Jackson (NASA); 3-d record (3-d); and 7-d recall (7-d). A significant (P < 0.01) Spearman rank order correlation coefficient was observed between the Caltrac reading and the 7-d recall (r = 0.79). A significant correlation was also observed between the Caltrac and the Godin (r = 0.45, P < 0.01). Three of the questionnaires were also significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with each other, including the NASA with the Baecke (r = 0.52), the NASA with the Godin (r = 0.54), and the Godin with the Baecke (r = 0.61). The 3-d record was not significantly correlated with any of the other measures. The strong, significant correlation observed between the Caltrac data and the 7-d recall suggests adequate validity for the 7-d recall. The 7-d recall questionnaire would be quicker, easier, and less expensive to use in a large population study than the Caltrac.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / instrumentation*
  • Physical Exertion / physiology*
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Surveys and Questionnaires