Reliability and Concurrent Validity of Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ): A Systematic Review

Abstract

This study aimed to systematically review previous studies on the reliability and concurrent validity of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). A systematic literature search was conducted (n = 26) using the online EBSCOHost databases, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to September 2019. A previously developed coding sheet was used to collect the data. The Modified Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies was employed to assess risk of bias and study quality. It was found that GPAQ was primarily revalidated in adult populations in Asian and European countries. The sample size ranged from 43 to 2657 with a wide age range (i.e., 15–79 years old). Different populations yielded inconsistent results concerning the reliability and validity of the GPAQ. Short term (i.e., one- to two-week interval) and long-term (i.e., two- to three-month apart) test–retest reliability was good to very good. The concurrent validity using accelerometers, pedometers, and physical activity (PA) log was poor to fair. The GPAQ data and accelerometer/pedometer/PA log data were not compared using the same measurements in some validation studies. Studies with more rigorous research designs are needed before any conclusions concerning the concurrent validity of GPAQ can be reached.

Validity and Reliability of International Physical Activity Questionnaires for Adults across EU Countries: Systematic Review and Meta Analysis

“…Although there is no single rule of the thumb relating to an adequate sample size, test-retest intervals and statistical analysis, academics have recommended the acceptable ratio of survey items and participants to be 1:5 [ 49 , 78 ], including test-retest interval between three and eight days [ 78 ] and the use of ICC and Pearson correlation coefficient [ 54 ]. Based on our qualitative rating, only 8 out of 311 PA constructs within different measurement characteristics received grade 1, 144 constructs were awarded with grade 2 and 149 with grade 3.…”

“…Of even greater importance, time intervals with the exception of two studies [ 46 , 76 ] were within the optional range [ 78 ] of the test-retest interval and ranged mostly between three and eight days. Since the reliability of MVPA and tPA was high even in the two aforementioned studies [ 49 , 78 ] that used one month interval between repeated assessments, this methodological weakness [ 49 ] does not hamper the conclusions of this study.…”

“…EHIS-PAQ is a domain-specific questionnaire with last 30-days recall, which includes 8 questions, covering three domains of PA (work-related, transport-related and leisure time), and distinguishes between aerobic and muscle-strengthening PA [ 46 ]. Although some reviews and meta-analysis of measurement properties of PAQs have already been published [ 38 , 47 , 48 , 49 ], there is still lack of knowledge addressing this issue on the European population is very multi-national, multi-cultural and multi-lingual.…”

Association among Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Cardiovascular, Obesity, and Anthropometric Variables of Overweight and Obese Middle-Aged and Older Adults

“…The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) is a modified version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) [36], and was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to a greater interest in the role of physical activity (PA) on health [37,38]. This questionnaire classifies participants according to activity level as the main objective of physical activity measurement, and allows for the study of trends and associations with other types of behavior or health outcomes.…”

The Mediation Effect of Self–Report Physical Activity Patterns in the Relationship between Educational Level and Cognitive Impairment in Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Chilean Health National Survey 2016–2017

“…Finally, the PA patterns were measure with the GPAQ, sum to two simple questions about leisure-time PA and commute mode. Despite that this questionnaire is the most used worldwide, a recent systematic-review has mentioned that no research has specifically examined the reliability and validity of the GPAQ in older adults, as well as in American countries [47]. Additionally, the GPAQ do not have questions about specific spaces of PA nor social interaction of PA, which may be related to cognitive impairment [48].…”