Reliability and concurrent validity of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire in adults from a Brazilian rural area

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test reliability of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), and its concurrent validity using accelerometers, in a Brazilian rural population. Fifty-five adults (18+ years) living in a rural Brazilian city were selected to wear an accelerometer for one week and to answer the GPAQ twice in a week period interval. Reliability was verified using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients and the concurrent validity was analyzed based on Bland and Altman’s diagrams. We found relatively high reliability for the total physical activity (ICC = 0.78; 95%CI: 0.63; 0.87). The average di erence between both GPAQ measures was 192 minutes (95%CI: -69.63; 453.75). Wider differences were found when participants reported > 400 minutes of physical activity per week. There was limited agreement between the GPAQ and accelerometer measures (total average difference = -1043 minutes; 95%CI: -1452.23; -634.09). Thus, the questionnaire presented limited concurrent validity and acceptable reliability, being able to be used in rural populations. However, there is still a need of new physical activity instruments focused on rural populations.