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European Journal of Epidemiology (2007) 22:379387 Springer 2007 DOI 10.1007/s10654-007-9110-9
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Reliability and validity of self-reported physical activity in the Nord-Trndelag Health Study (HUNT 2)
Nanna Kurtze1, Vegar Rangul2, Bo-Egil Hustvedt3 & W. Dana Flanders4,5
1HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Neptunveien 1, 7650, Verdal, Norway; 2Faculty of Teaching, Engineering and Nursing, NordTrndelag University College, Steinkjer, Nord-Trndelag, Norway; 3Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; 4Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; 5Emory University, Atlanta, GA, Norway
Accepted in revised form 9 January 2007
Abstract. Background: To validate the physical activity (PA) questionnaire in Nord-Trndelag Health Study (HUNT 2). Methods: The questionnaire was administered twice to a random sample of 108 men aged 2039 and validity by comparing results with VO2max and ActiReg, measuring PA and energy expenditure and with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results: Spear-man correlation coecients indicated poor and moderate signicant agreement by test-retest (light activity, r = 0.17, and hard activity, r = 0.50). We found a moderate signicant correlation r = 0.46 (p 0.01) between hard PA and VO2max and n.s for
light activity (r = )03). Metabolic equivalent (METs) values 6+ from ActiReg most strongly correlated with hard PA r = 0.31 (p 0.01), though associations of other measures obtained from ActiReg with questionnaire measures were weaker. Occupational activity was strongest correlated for
METs 36 r = 0.48 (p 0.01) by ActiReg.
Conclusions: The HUNT 2 question for hardLTPA has acceptable repeatability and appears to be a reasonably valid measure of vigorous activity, as reected in moderate correlations with several other measures including VO2max, and with corresponding
results from IPAQ and ActiReg. The HUNT 2 question on occupational activity had good repeatability and appears to best reect time spent in moderate activity, with moderate associations with measured time at intermediate intensity levels. The light activity question from HUNT 2 had poor reproducibility and did not correlate well with most of the comparison measures. Thus, the hard PA and the occupational activity question should be useful measures of vigorous PA, if time and space allow only very brief...