Validity and reliability of the Baecke questionnaire against accelerometer-measured physical activity in community dwelling adults according to educational level

Abstract

Baecke questionnaire have been widely used to assess physical activity. However, the role of educational level on validity and reliability of Baecke questionnaire is still not stablished, being a factor that can potentially influence the accuracy of self-reported measures. The present study aimed to verify the validity and reliability of Baecke questionnaire for the measurement of physical activity in community dwelling adults according to education level. The sample included 251 adults (42.4±17.0 years, 55% of women). Physical activity was self-reported by Baecke questionnaire and objectively measured by accelerometer. The education level (EL) was classified by years of study into low (<8 years), medium (8–11 years) and high (>11 years). A 7-day test-retest reliability was analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficient. The relationship, agreement and validity of the Baecke questionnaire against accelerometry were analyzed by Spearman’s correlation, Kappa index, and ROC curve, respectively. The reliability of Baecke questionnaire were r = 0.97 (high EL), r = 0.78 (medium EL), and r = 0.68 (low EL). Sensitivity and specificity were 77% and 71% in high EL, 54% and 80% in medium EL and 33% and 89% in the low EL. Baecke questionnaire proved to be reliable and a valid measurement of habitual physical activity in adults with medium and high EL.

Association between Different Domains of Sedentary Behavior and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adults: A Longitudinal Study

“…The Baecke questionnaire provides a dimensionless score ranging from 1 to 5 for each assessed domain, and the sum of three domains corresponds to the total physical activity score. This instrument is validated for the Brazilian population [ 35 ]. Body mass index (BMI = kg/m²) was calculated through objectively measured body weight (in kilograms) and height (in meters), with participants assessed barefoot and wearing light clothes.…”

Young, but not in the Dark - the Influence of Reduced Lighting on Gait Stability in Middle-aged adults

“…Another possible explanation for the decreased balance during walking in the middle-aged group might be related to the results of the 30CST. While our subjects in all three groups had no walking impairments and were physically active according to their BPAQ score [24,34], the 30CST score in the middle-aged group was below the previously reported age reference value [35] and were similar to those in the old group. Reduced ability to move from sitting to standing has been associated with decreased dynamic stability [36,37].…”

Comparison of Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors with and without Persistent Depressive Symptoms: A 12-Month Follow-Up Study

“…The main limitation of this study is the subjective assessment of physical activity by Baecke’s questionnaire, which did not provide information in minutes per week or account for the intensity of the activities that were performed, precluding more inferences. However, despite this limitation, the Baecke questionnaire is a reliable and valid measurement of habitual physical activity in adults [ 38 ]. In addition, the longitudinal design with 12 months of follow-up of the present study, as well as the control of confounding variables in the statistical models, may reduce the chance of possible biases.…”

“…The overall physical activity score was calculated by the sum of the three domain scores. It should be noted that the Baecke questionnaire is considered to be a valid measure of physical activity level as observed by its good performance when evaluated by gold-standard assessment methods [ 38 ].…”