Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ): Nine Country Reliability and Validity Study

TLDR

Physical activity assessment tools are required for national and international surveillance and comparison, prompting the study of the GPAQ across diverse populations in nine countries. The study administered the GPAQ and IPAQ twice to adults in nine countries, used objective pedometer/accelerometer data over seven days in eight countries, and calculated reliability coefficients (Kappa 0.67–0.73; Spearman’s ρ 0.67–0.81). Concurrent validity between GPAQ and IPAQ was moderate to strong (0.45–0.65), while criterion validity was poor to fair (0.06–0.35); despite some demographic and country differences, GPAQ produced reproducible data and is considered a suitable instrument for population health surveillance, though further replication is needed.

Abstract

Instruments to assess physical activity are needed for (inter)national surveillance systems and comparison.Male and female adults were recruited from diverse sociocultural, educational and economic backgrounds in 9 countries (total n = 2657). GPAQ and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were administered on at least 2 occasions. Eight countries assessed criterion validity using an objective measure (pedometer or accelerometer) over 7 days.Reliability coefficients were of moderate to substantial strength (Kappa 0.67 to 0.73; Spearman's rho 0.67 to 0.81). Results on concurrent validity between IPAQ and GPAQ also showed a moderate to strong positive relationship (range 0.45 to 0.65). Results on criterion validity were in the poor-fair (range 0.06 to 0.35). There were some observed differences between sex, education, BMI and urban/rural and between countries.Overall GPAQ provides reproducible data and showed a moderate-strong positive correlation with IPAQ, a previously validated and accepted measure of physical activity. Validation of GPAQ produced poor results although the magnitude was similar to the range reported in other studies. Overall, these results indicate that GPAQ is a suitable and acceptable instrument for monitoring physical activity in population health surveillance systems, although further replication of this work in other countries is warranted.