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The international physical activity questionnaire overestimates moderate and vigorous physical activity in HIV-infected individuals compared with accelerometry.

Fillipas S, Cicuttini F, Holland AE, Cherry CL

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  • Journal The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANAC

  • Published 29 Jan 2010

  • Volume 21

  • ISSUE 2

  • Pagination 173-81

  • DOI 10.1016/j.jana.2009.11.003

Abstract

This study evaluates the validity of the last-7-day, self-administered version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) long form in HIV-infected people, using accelerometry as the objective criterion. The ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer was worn during all waking hours for 7 days, and the IPAQ was completed on day 7. A total of 30 men were recruited as participants from the Alfred Infectious Disease Clinic, Melbourne, Australia. Self-reported total number of metabolic equivalents minutes per week correlated moderately with accelerometer total activity counts (r = .41, p = .02). However, mean differences showed overreporting with the questionnaire; 546.63 min/wk (95% confidence interval: 217.1-871.2 minutes) for moderate and 295.33 min/wk (95% confidence interval: 88.08-502.6 minutes) for vigorous activity. The IPAQ correlated with accelerometry, but substantial overreporting occurred. The tool may be useful in screening physical activity but should not be used to determine precise levels.