%0 Journal Article
%T Assessing Physical Activity in Older People: Findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study
%A H.J. Martin
%A H.E. Syddall
%A E.M. Dennison
%A V.A. Cox
%A C. Cooper and A. Aihie SayerBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusions
%J The Open Geriatric Medicine Journal
%D 2008
%I 
%R 10.2174/1874827900801010043]
%X Background: Physical activity (PA) is difficult to assess and few instruments are relevant to older people. We have developed a self-administered PA questionnaire (HPAQ) for the Hertfordshire Cohort Study; we report its feasibility and validity and describe PA participation in older people. Methods: 525 participants completed the HPAQ; 15 women also completed the EPAQ-2 for validation. Activity participation was described using percentage participation, estimated energy expenditure and cluster analysis. Results: Most participants found the HPAQ simple to complete. Agreement between the HPAQ and EPAQ-2 was good. Activities with highest participation rates and energy expenditures were walking (99.6%, 149.8 MET.h/mth) for men and home activities (100%, 287.1 MET.h/mth) for women. Clustering identified three patterns of activity participation for men (ˇ°Keep Fitˇ±, ˇ°Indoorsˇ± & ˇ°Less activeˇ±), and two for women (ˇ°Keep Fitˇ± & ˇ°Indoorsˇ±). Conclusions: The HPAQ is a feasible and valid PA questionnaire for older people. Clustering identified different patterns of PA participation.
%U http://www.benthamscience.com/open/togerimj/articles/V001/43TOGERIMJ.htm