Research

Comparative validation of the IPAQ and the 7-Day PAR among women diagnosed with breast cancer

Marilyn Johnson-Kozlow¹ , James F Sallis^2* , Elizabeth A Gilpin^3* , Cheryl L Rock^3* and John P Pierce^3*

¹  San Diego State University Research Foundation, 9245 Sky Park Court, San Diego, CA 92123, USA

²  San Diego State University, Department of Psychology, 3900 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103, USA

³  University of California, San Diego, Family and Preventive Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2006, 3:7doi:10.1186/1479-5868-3-7

Published:	31 March 2006

Abstract

Background

The criterion-related validity and measurement bias of the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was compared to the 7-Day Physical Activity Recall (PAR).

Methods

Participants were women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and enrolled in the ongoing Women's Healthy Eating and Living Study. Women (N = 159, average age 57 years) wore an accelerometer for one week and then completed the IPAQ or the PAR.

Results

The validity correlation of the PAR was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the IPAQ (0.73 vs. 0.33, respectively). The PAR and IPAQ overestimated total physical activity by 13% vs. 247%, respectively. The PAR had better sensitivity (p = 0.14) and specificity (p < .01) than the IPAQ (100% vs. 71% and 84% vs. 59%, respectively) in predicting attainment of the ACSM physical activity guideline.

Conclusion

The PAR was superior to the IPAQ in terms of validity, measurement bias, and screening statistics.