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Testing the Neighbourhood Physical Activity Questionnaire (N-IPAQ): Online

Updated: Sep 15

Results from: “Test-retest reliability and Walk Score® neighbourhood walkability comparison of an online perceived neighbourhood-specific adaptation of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)”

Frehlich L, Blackstaffe A, McCormack GR

 

Understanding where people's physical activity takes place

The built environment, or the surroundings in which we live, can support physical activity (1-3). However, much of the research looking at how the built environment influences physical activity is based on measures that do not ask where the activity has taken place. Knowledge of where a person’s physical activity takes place is an important component in understanding the relationship between the built environment and physical activity. The use of location measurement devices such as global positioning systems (GPS) monitors would be preferable; however, these devices are often very costly which limits their use in population studies. Online surveys have become commonplace in population health research for their ease of administration and researcher options such as being able to link and skip questions based on previous answers (4-7). The Neighbourhood-International Physical Activity Questionnaire (N-IPAQ) is a reliable and valid questionnaire that measures neighbourhood-based physical activity (8,9).


Testing the N-IPAQ

The N-IPAQ was recently tested using an online format in a Canadian population. Participants from varying levels of neighbourhood walkability were included in this study. The participants completed an online version of the N-IPAQ twice, approximately seven days apart. The results showed that the online administered N-IPAQ provided reliable and valid estimates of self-reported neighbourhood physical activity. Participants who lived in a higher walkable neighbourhood reported walking more for transportation compared to those who lived in a low walkable neighbourhood. In fact, those who lived in a high walkable neighbourhood were three times as likely to participate in walking for transportation, and reported undertaking over 40 minutes more of walking for transportation, compared to those who lived in a low walkable neighbourhood.


The online N-IPAQ was reliable and had similar reliability as the paper IPAQ. The online N-IPAQ also found differences in neighbourhoods that vary in their walkability. Future studies now have an easily administered questionnaire to use when investigating built environment and perceived neighbourhood-specific physical activity.

Suggested Citation: Frehlich L, Blackstaffe A, McCormack GR. Test-retest reliability and Walk Score® neighbourhood walkability comparison of an online perceived neighbourhood-specific adaptation of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). International journal of environmental research and public health. 2019 Jun;16(11):1917.


References

  1. Saelens BE, Handy SL. Built environment correlates of walking: a review. Medicine and science in sports and exercise. 2008 Jul;40(7 Suppl):S550.

  2. Wendel‐Vos WM, Droomers M, Kremers S, Brug J, Van Lenthe F. Potential environmental determinants of physical activity in adults: a systematic review. Obesity reviews. 2007 Sep;8(5):425-40.

  3. McCormack GR, Shiell A. In search of causality: a systematic review of the relationship between the built environment and physical activity among adults. International journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity. 2011 Dec;8:1-1.

  4. Anderson D, Seib C, Tjondronegoro D, Turner J, Monterosso L, McGuire A, Porter-Steele J, Song W, Yates P, King N, Young L. The Women’s wellness after cancer program: a multisite, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial protocol. BMC cancer. 2017 Dec;17:1-8.

  5. Hansen AW, Dahl-Petersen I, Helge JW, Brage S, Grønbæk M, Flensborg-Madsen T. Validation of an Internet-based long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire in Danish adults using combined accelerometry and heart rate monitoring. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2014 Mar 1;11(3):654-64.

  6. Wong FY. Influence of Pokémon Go on physical activity levels of university players: a cross-sectional study. International journal of health geographics. 2017 Dec;16:1-2.

  7. Taylor NJ, Crouter SE, Lawton RJ, Conner MT, Prestwich A. Development and validation of the Online Self-reported Walking and Exercise Questionnaire (OSWEQ). Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2013 Nov 1;10(8):1091-101.

  8. Frehlich L, Friedenreich C, Nettel-Aguirre A, McCormack GR. Test-retest reliability of a modified International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to capture neighbourhood physical activity.

  9. Frehlich L, Friedenreich C, Nettel-Aguirre A, Schipperijn J, McCormack GR. Using accelerometer/GPS data to validate a neighborhood-adapted version of the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour. 2018 Dec 1;1(4):181-90.

 

Posted November 29, 2019

Written by Levi Frehlich

Infographic by Levi Frehlich


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