Measuring Physical Activity in Pregnancy Using Questionnaires: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

SUMMARY -Physical activity (PA) during normal pregnancy has various positive eff ects on pregnant women's health. Determination of the relationship between PA and health outcomes requires accurate measurement of PA in pregnant women. Th e purpose of this review is to provide a summary of valid and reliable PA questionnaires for pregnant women. During 2013, Pubmed, OvidSP and Web of Science databases were searched for trials on measurement properties of PA questionnaires for pregnant population. Six studies and four questionnaires met the inclusion criteria: Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire, Modifi ed Kaiser Physical Activity Survey, Short Pregnancy Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire and Th ird Pregnancy Infection and Nutrition Study Physical Activity Questionnaire. Assessment of validity and reliability was performed using correlations of the scores in these questionnaires with objective measures and subjective measures (self-report) of PA, as well as test-retest reliability coeffi cients. Sample sizes included in analysis varied from 45 to 177 subjects. Th e best validity and reliability characteristics (together with eff ect sizes) were identifi ed for the Modifi ed Kaiser Physical Activity Survey and Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (French, Vietnamese, standard). In conclusion, assessment of PA during pregnancy remains a challenging and complex task. Questionnaires are a simple and eff ective, yet limited tool for assessing PA.

Activity Tracking Devices in Group Prenatal Care: A Feasibility Study

“…Using validated questionnaires to measure physical activity is simple and inexpensive, yet these tools have limitations due reliability and construct validity. 3 , 4 Furthermore, other studies suggest that there is only fair agreement in self-reported physical activity using questionnaires and objectively measured physical activity (e.g., pedometers, accelerometers) and that self-reported activity is typically higher than what accelerometers record. 5 , 6 …”

Structured supervised exercise training or motivational counselling during pregnancy on physical activity level and health of mother and offspring: FitMum study protocol

“…71 PPAQ is a semiquantitative and subjective instrument, which has been validated 70 and is considered one of the most valid and reliable questionnaires for the assessment of PA level in pregnant women. 72 Our research group has translated PPAQ to Danish and validated it in a Danish pregnant population. 73 The doubly labelled water technique is the 'gold standard' technique to measure free-living energy expenditure objectively and is safe, even for pregnant women, as it relies on stable, non-radioactive isotopes.…”

Physical activity during pregnancy is associated with a lower number of perineal tears

“…In this sense, in the questionnaire, the non-active criterion corresponds to a weekly expenditure of up to 225 METs, and being physically active corresponds to an expenditure above this threshold, which is consistent with the results of previous studies that have applied this instrument in a pregnant population. [24][25][26][27] Therefore, the cut-off point for active and non-active women was established to be 225 METs per week.…”