Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ): Findings from cognitive interviews in 15 countries
Abstract Overview
Background: Investigators from low-, middle-, and high-income countries representing all inhabited continents contributed to the development of the Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire’ (GAC-PAQ). The GAC-PAQ addresses multiple gaps in global physical activity (PA) surveillance (e.g., omission of some PA domains, insufficient cultural adaptation, underrepresentation of rural areas in questionnaire validation studies).
Purpose: To assess the comprehensibility of the GAC-PAQ among 7- to 17-year-olds and one of their parents/guardians.
Methods: Child-parent dyads from 15 countries (N=250) participated in a cognitive interview. Structured by PA domain (i.e., school, chores, work/volunteering, transport, free time, outdoor time), interviews were conducted in 13 different languages to enhance inclusivity. Participants were asked about the clarity of the questions and response options and encouraged to provide suggestions to facilitate completion of the questionnaire. Images were included to help participants in answering questions about PA intensity.
Results: In general, participants found the questionnaire to be comprehensive. Adolescents found it easier than children to answer the questions. Several children struggled to answer questions about the duration of recess and lunch periods, the intensity of activities, and/or concepts related to income, travel modes, active trips, and organized activities. Many parents were unsure about the frequency, duration, and intensity of their children’s PA at school, and/or recommended using more culturally-relevant images. Some participants misunderstood the concept of activities that “make you stronger” (intended to assess resistance activities) and/or struggled to differentiate between work, volunteering, and chores.
Conclusions: Participants’ feedback was used to develop a revised, simplified, and culturally-relevant GAC-PAQ, which will be pilot-tested in an app that will include country-specific images and narration. Further research is needed to assess the reliability and validity of the revised GAC-PAQ.
Practical implications: Findings have implications for the development of PA questionnaires and PA surveillance.
Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Additional Authors
Name: Saulo Neves de Oliveira
Affiliation: University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada
Presenting Author: no
Name: Mahdi Rostami Haji Abadi
Affiliation: University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada
Presenting Author: no
Name: Garazi Angulo Garay
Affiliation: Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
Presenting Author: no
Name: Gabriela Argumedo
Affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico
Presenting Author: no
Name: Joseph Ashaolu
Affiliation: Redeemer’s University, Ede, Nigeria
Presenting Author: no
Name: Ameneh Baghestani
Affiliation: Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Presenting Author: no
Name: Judy Katterine Benavides Castro
Affiliation: Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
Presenting Author: no
Name: Jasmin Bhawra
Affiliation: Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada
Presenting Author: no
Name: Javier Brazo-Sayavera
Affiliation: Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
Presenting Author: no
Name: Nutnaree Choonak
Affiliation: Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Presenting Author: no
Name: Christine Delisle Nyström
Affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
Presenting Author: no
Name: Seti Evance
Affiliation: University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi
Presenting Author: no
Name: Letícia Gonçalves
Affiliation: Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
Presenting Author: no
Name: Zdenek Hamrik
Affiliation: Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
Presenting Author: no
Name: Alejandra Jáuregui
Affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico
Presenting Author: no
Name: Piyakrita Kaewpikul
Affiliation: Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Presenting Author: no
Name: Piyawat Katewongsa
Affiliation: Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Presenting Author: no
Name: Anuradha Khadilkar
Affiliation: Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, Jehangir Hospital, Pune, India
Presenting Author: no
Name: Geoff Kira
Affiliation: Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Presenting Author: no
Name: McPherry Kuntembwe
Affiliation: University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi
Presenting Author: no
Name: Yang Liu
Affiliation: Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
Presenting Author: no
Name: Marie Löf
Affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
Presenting Author: no
Name: Tom Loney
Affiliation: Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Presenting Author: no
Name: Maria Lundgren
Affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
Presenting Author: no
Name: Rubina Mandlik
Affiliation: Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, Jehangir Hospital, Pune, India
Presenting Author: no
Name: Martine Matapo-Kolisko
Affiliation: Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Presenting Author: no
Name: Chidvilas More
Affiliation: Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, Jehangir Hospital, Pune, India
Presenting Author: no
Name: Tawonga W. Mwase-Vuma
Affiliation: University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi
Presenting Author: no
Name: Nattaporn Nilwatta
Affiliation: Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Presenting Author: no
Name: Adewale L. Oyeyemi
Affiliation: Arizona State University, Phoenix, USA
Presenting Author: no
Name: Susan Paudel
Affiliation: Nepal Development Society, Chitwan, Nepal
Presenting Author: no
Name: Pedro Henrique Pires Anselmo
Affiliation: Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
Presenting Author: no
Name: Nanthawan Pomkai
Affiliation: Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Presenting Author: no
Name: Justin Richards
Affiliation: Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Presenting Author: no
Name: Olga Sarmiento
Affiliation: Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
Presenting Author: no
Name: Diego Augusto Santos Silva
Affiliation: Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
Presenting Author: no
Name: Melody Smith
Affiliation: Waipapa Taumata Rau/University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Presenting Author: no
Name: Narayan Subedi
Affiliation: Nepal Development Society, Chitwan, Nepal
Presenting Author: no
Name: Dyah Anantalia Widyastari
Affiliation: Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Presenting Author: no
Name: Oliver W. A. Wilson
Affiliation: Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Presenting Author: no
Name: Salomé Aubert
Affiliation: Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, Ottawa, Canada
Presenting Author: no
Name: Valerie Carson
Affiliation: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Presenting Author: no
Name: Rachel C. Colley
Affiliation: Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Canada
Presenting Author: no
Name: Dale W. Esliger
Affiliation: Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
Presenting Author: no
Name: Silvia A. Gonzalez
Affiliation: Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
Presenting Author: no
Name: Ryan Harper-Brown
Affiliation: University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada
Presenting Author: no
Name: Nicholas Kuzik
Affiliation: CHEO Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
Presenting Author: no
Name: Taru Manyanga
Affiliation: University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, Canada
Presenting Author: no
Name: John J. Reilly
Affiliation: University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
Presenting Author: no
Name: Karen C. Roberts
Affiliation: Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
Presenting Author: no
Name: Leigh M. Vanderloo
Affiliation: ParticipACTION, Toronto, Canada
Presenting Author: no
Name: Stephen H. S. Wong
Affiliation: Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Presenting Author: no
Name: Mark S. Tremblay
Affiliation: CHEO Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
Presenting Author: no
Information
Study Type: Method development
Subtheme: Monitoring and data systems
Population Group: Children, Adolescents
Setting: Whole System
Submitting Author
Richard Larouche
Associate Professor
University of Lethbridge
Canada
