Validation of the brief physical activity assessment tool: Comparison of telephone and in-person administration

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2025

Authors

Vilarinho, R (Author) Other; Amorim, L (Author) Other; Gomes, D (Author) Other; Teixeira, P (Author) Other; da Silva, AA (Author) Other; Santos, J (Author) FMUP; Bernardo, F (Author) Other; de Sousa, JC (Author) Other; Fonseca, JA (Author) Other; Jácome, C (Author) Other

Journal

Title: PLoS ONE

Vol. 20

ISSN: 1932-6203

Publisher: Public Library of Science

Indexing

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-018-022

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317614

Abstract (EN): We examined the reliability and validity of the Brief Physical Activity Assessment Tool (BPAAT) when administered by telephone interview compared to in-person administration. We analyzed data from the Epi-asthma study. Adult participants registered in the participating Portuguese primary health care centres (PCC) completed the BPAAT via telephone. After ~3 days (range 0¿5 days), they had a face-to-face visit at their PCC and completed BPAAT using a tablet. The BPAAT classify individuals as "insufficiently active" (score 0¿3) or "sufficiently active" (score 4¿8). 355 subjects (60.8% female, 54[IQR 42¿66] years) were included. The median BPAAT score was 2[0¿4] for both methods, with a significant correlation (rho = 0.58, p<0.001). Test-retest reliability was moderate (ICC = 0.56, 95%CI 0.49¿0.63). Agreement in physical activity classification was fair (71.5%, kappa = 0.31, 95%CI 0.21¿0.41), with telephone administration classifying more individuals as "sufficiently active" (37.2%) than in-person (15.5%). Telephone administration of the BPAAT is a valid and reliable approach for monitoring of physical activity in the general population. However, it may slightly overestimate activity levels compared to face-to-face administration, particularly among subjects aged 65 years and older. © 2025 Vilarinho et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific