The Open Geriatric Medicine Journal

2008, 1 : 43-49
Published online 2008 December 29. DOI: 10.2174/1874827900801010043
Publisher ID: TOGERIMJ-1-43

Assessing Physical Activity in Older People: Findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study

H.J. Martin , H.E. Syddall , E.M. Dennison , V.A. Cox , C. Cooper and A. Aihie Sayer
MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 6YD, UK.

ABSTRACT

Background:

Physical activity (PA) is difficult to assess and few instruments are relevant to older people. We have developed a self-administered PA questionnaire (HPAQ) for the Hertfordshire Cohort Study; we report its feasibility and validity and describe PA participation in older people.

Methods:

525 participants completed the HPAQ; 15 women also completed the EPAQ-2 for validation. Activity participation was described using percentage participation, estimated energy expenditure and cluster analysis.

Results:

Most participants found the HPAQ simple to complete. Agreement between the HPAQ and EPAQ-2 was good. Activities with highest participation rates and energy expenditures were walking (99.6%, 149.8 MET.h/mth) for men and home activities (100%, 287.1 MET.h/mth) for women. Clustering identified three patterns of activity participation for men (“Keep Fit”, “Indoors” & “Less active”), and two for women (“Keep Fit” & “Indoors”).

Conclusions:

The HPAQ is a feasible and valid PA questionnaire for older people. Clustering identified different patterns of PA participation.

Keywords:

Physical activity, questionnaire, methodology, aging.