Comparing Accelerometer and Self-Reported Treatment Effects in a Technology-Supported Physical Activity Intervention. Health Educ Behav 2021 Feb;48(1):34-41
Date
11/14/2020Pubmed ID
33185131DOI
10.1177/1090198120971194Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85095950804 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To estimate and compare the change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) between an accelerometer and technology-supported physical activity (PA) log across a 3-week PA intervention.
METHOD: Participants (N = 204, 77% female, age = 33 ± 11 years, body mass index = 28.2 ± 7.1 kg/m2) were randomized to one of two activity-related intervention arms: (1) increase MVPA intervention or (2) decrease sedentary behavior active control. Participants wore an accelerometer while simultaneously completing a technology-based PA log every day for 5 weeks: a 2-week baseline assessment phase and a 3-week intervention phase. Bivariate linear mixed-effects models and correlations were used to characterize the relationship of MVPA between measurement methods throughout the intervention. Effect sizes were calculated to determine the intervention effect by measurement method.
RESULTS: At baseline, PA log MVPA was 28 minutes greater than accelerometer-based minutes of MVPA in the active control group. This difference was 35 minutes (95% CI [23.7, 46.1]) greater at follow-up than at baseline measurement in the MVPA intervention group. In the active control group, there was a significant 16-minute (95% CI [6.0, 26.5]) increase between the two measures from baseline to follow-up. The intervention effect size based on the PA log was 0.27 (95% CI [0.14, 0.39]) and 0.42 (95% CI [0.28, 0.56]) when using the accelerometer.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that PA log MVPA and accelerometer MVPA estimate significantly different minutes per day of MVPA. It is important researchers use caution when comparing MVPA intervention outcomes from different measurement methods.
Author List
Welch WA, Groth CP, Phillips SM, Spring B, Siddique JAuthor
Whitney A. Morelli PhD Assistant Professor in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AccelerometryAdult
Exercise
Female
Humans
Male
Self Report
Technology
Young Adult