International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Volume 9, 2012

Evaluation of the Indian Migration Study Physical Activity Questionnaire (IMS-PAQ): A cross-sectional study (Article) (Open Access)

Sullivan R.* , Kinra S. , Ekelund U. , AV B. , Vaz M. , Kurpad A. , Collier T. , Reddy K.S. , Prabhakaran D. , Ebrahim S. , Kuper H.
  • a Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
  • b Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
  • c MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge, United Kingdom
  • d Mount Carmel College, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Bangalore, India
  • e Division of Nutrition, St John's Research Institute, Bangalore, India
  • f Division of Health and Humanities, St John's Research Institute, Bangalore, India
  • g Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
  • h Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India
  • i Centre for Chronic Disease Control, New Delhi, India
  • j Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, South Asia Network for Chronic Disease, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India
  • k Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom

Abstract

Background: Socio-cultural differences for country-specific activities are rarely addressed in physical activity questionnaires. We examined the reliability and validity of the Indian Migration Study Physical Activity Questionnaire (IMS-PAQ) in urban and rural groups in India.Methods: A sub-sample of IMS participants (n = 479) was used to examine short term (≤1 month [n = 158]) and long term (> 1 month [n = 321]) IMS-PAQ reliability for levels of total, sedentary, light and moderate/vigorous activity (MVPA) intensity using intraclass correlation (ICC) and kappa coefficients (k). Criterion validity (n = 157) was examined by comparing the IMS-PAQ to a uniaxial accelerometer (ACC) worn ≥4 days, via Spearman's rank correlations (ρ) and k, using Bland-Altman plots to check for systematic bias. Construct validity (n = 7,000) was established using linear regression, comparing IMS-PAQ against theoretical constructs associated with physical activity (PA): BMI [kg/m 2], percent body fat and pulse rate.Results: IMS-PAQ reliability ranged from ICC 0.42-0.88 and k = 0.37-0.61 (≤1 month) and ICC 0.26 to 0.62; kappa 0.17 to 0.45 (> 1 month). Criterion validity was ρ = 0.18-0.48; k = 0.08-0.34. Light activity was underestimated and MVPA consistently and substantially overestimated for the IMS-PAQ vs. the accelerometer. Criterion validity was moderate for total activity and MVPA. Reliability and validity were comparable for urban and rural participants but lower in women than men. Increasing time spent in total activity or MVPA, and decreasing time in sedentary activity were associated with decreasing BMI, percent body fat and pulse rate, thereby demonstrating construct validity.Conclusion: IMS-PAQ reliability and validity is similar to comparable self-reported instruments. It is an appropriate tool for ranking PA of individuals in India. Some refinements may be required for sedentary populations and women in India. © 2012 Sullivan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Author Keywords

Reproducibility adults Methodology Activity domains Low-middle income countries Health behaviour

Index Keywords

Adipose Tissue body composition physical activity urban area rural area Actigraphy validity Indian migration study physical activity questionnaire India Heart Rate exercise nonparametric test Indian Statistics, Nonparametric human Health Behavior actimetry validation study sex difference Health Surveys Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study Humans male female reliability pulse rate construct validity reproducibility Reproducibility of Results questionnaire Article Questionnaires adult migration Sex Factors body fat standard Sedentary Lifestyle Emigration and Immigration Linear Models statistical model body mass Body Mass Index health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84856766868&doi=10.1186%2f1479-5868-9-13&partnerID=40&md5=0f62af614851f5de868e87738befb8e6
DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-9-13
ISSN: 14795868
Cited by: 18
Original Language: English