HOW HAS KIDS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PREVIOUSLY BEEN MEASURED IN AUSTRALIA? AND WHAT QUESTIONS COULD WE USE IN THE FUTURE?

Abstract

The complex nature of children’s and adolescents’ participation in physical activity (PA) makes it difficult to measure. Questions have been used in Australia for many decades to subjectively monitor PA and sedentarism, however there is no consensus on which are the best. Since better data is needed to more accurately determine PA participation, the aim of this research was to identify existing questions and utilise expert opinion to develop a set of recommended questions. An audit of existing research measuring Australian children’s and adolescents’ participation in PA and sedentary behaviours was conducted. Existing questions were collated, classified and described in terms of the behaviours they measured and how they have previously been used. A two-round online Delphi method was chosen to identify experts’ opinions on existing questions measuring PA and sedentary behaviours. From 1951 to 2019, 362 index questions were identified as previously used to measure PA and sedentary behaviours. The questions were diverse, with varying characteristics such as the behaviours measured, question structure, recall timeframe, and temporal alterations to the questions. Some continuity in data collection was identified, with one question measuring overall PA participation repeated 35 times across different studies. Within the Delphi questionnaire, 29 experts provided feedback on 31 questions which met the pre-determined criteria. The highest-ranked questions measuring participation in overall PA and sedentary behaviours were selected as two key questions for measuring compliance to PA guidelines. Numerous questions exist able to measure compliance to guidelines or more specific measurement needs. If researchers and practitioners utilise recommended questions, it will help to accumulate comparative data and provide further insight on how to meaningfully improve PA of an individual child or a whole population.