Physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE): Transcultural adaptation into French

Objective

To translate the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) questionnaire into French, adapt it to the French European culture and validate it.

Material and methods

The PASE was translated and culturally adapted using a 5-step validated process. The investigation of the measurement properties included the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity and floor and ceiling effects.

Results

The translation faced no major problems, with moderate cultural adjustments. Unfamiliar activities such as American football, shuffleboard or aerobic dancing were adjusted, while common sports like yoga, aqua cycling and electric cycling were added. Validation study involved 89 older participants (median age of 73 (69.5 - 77) years, 58% of women). Moderate internal consistency was found (Cronbach's alpha= 0.571). Test-retest reliability was very good for household activities (ICC= 0.712 (95% CI= 0.496 – 0.845)) and work-related activities (ICC= 0.955 (95% CI= 0.908 – 0.978)) but was lower in the leisure section (ICC= 0.163 (95% CI= - 0.183 - 0.473)), leading to a moderate overall score (ICC= 0.455 (95% CI= 0.125 - 0.608)). This result could be attributed to the weather conditions that were not similar between the two test-intervals, which affects leisure activities (most of which take place outdoors). Construct validity was almost confirmed (66.67% of the ideal 75% hypothesis was validated). No floor or ceiling effects were detected.

Conclusion

The French PASE appears to be a reliable and relatively valid tool for assessing household and work-related activities. However, PASE should be used with caution, especially when assessing leisure time activities, ensuring that the meteorological conditions are consistent between the two reliability tests.