EASY—An Instrument for Surveillance of Physical Activity in Youth

ABSTRACTPurposePhysical activity (PA) promotion among youth is a public health priority and there is a need for robust surveillance systems to help support such initiatives. Existing youth PA self-report instruments that are used for surveillance lack information regarding the types and contexts of activity. Further, these instruments have limited validity with accelerometry. The purpose of the present study was to develop a self-report instrument, with sound psychometric properties, for monitoring compliance with PA guidelines in youth.MethodsIn focus groups, 162 middle school students identified 30 forms of PA that are highly prevalent in that age group. We incorporated these activities into three preliminary forms of a self-report instrument. An independent sample of middle school students (n = 537) was randomly assigned to complete one of the three preliminary versions of the instrument. Rasch analysis was applied to the responses to the three formats, and a yes/no plus frequency format emerged as the preferred method. A third sample of 342 middle school students then completed the yes/no plus frequency instrument twice following a seven-day period during which they wore an accelerometer. Using both Rasch analysis and traditional correlational methods, validity and reliability of a 14-item instrument were established. Data were collected during 2012 – 2015.ResultsSpearman correlation coefficient for the association between the cumulative score for the 14 items and minutes per day of accelerometry-derived moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was 0.33 (95% CI 0.22, 0.43; p<.001 sensitivity and specificity of the instrument was respectively.conclusionsthe study produced a pa self-report for youth that found to be reliable valid versus accelerometry acceptably specific sensitive in detecting compliance with guidelines.this is an open-access article distributed under terms creative commons attribution-non commercial-no derivatives license where it permissible download share work provided properly cited. cannot changed any way or used commercially without permission from journal. purpose physical activity promotion among public health priority there need robust surveillance systems help support such initiatives. existing instruments are lack information regarding types contexts activity. further these have limited validity accelerometry. present develop sound psychometric properties monitoring guidelines youth. methods focus groups middle school students identified forms highly prevalent age group. we incorporated activities into three preliminary instrument. independent sample randomly assigned complete one versions rasch analysis applied responses formats yes plus frequency format emerged as preferred method. third then completed twice following seven-day period during which they wore accelerometer. using both traditional correlational reliability were established. data collected results spearman correlation coefficient association between cumulative score items minutes per day accelerometry-derived moderate-to-vigorous ci p respectively. conclusions guidelines. this corresponding author: russell r. pate phd university south carolina research center assembly street suite columbia sc s funded by grant national cancer institute institutes health. authors declare no conflicts interest. do not constitute endorsement american college sports medicine. presented clearly honestly fabrication falsification inappropriate manipulation. accepted publication: january medicine>

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