Comparing Accelerometer and Self-Reported Treatment Effects in a Technology-Supported Physical Activity Intervention

Whitney A. Welch*, Caroline P. Groth, Siobhan M. Phillips, Bonnie Spring, Juned Siddique

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and Aims: To estimate and compare the change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) between an accelerometer and technology-supported physical activity (PA) log across a 3-week PA intervention. Method: Participants (N = 204, 77% female, age = 33 ± 11 years, body mass index = 28.2 ± 7.1 kg/m2) were randomized to one of two activity-related intervention arms: (1) increase MVPA intervention or (2) decrease sedentary behavior active control. Participants wore an accelerometer while simultaneously completing a technology-based PA log every day for 5 weeks: a 2-week baseline assessment phase and a 3-week intervention phase. Bivariate linear mixed-effects models and correlations were used to characterize the relationship of MVPA between measurement methods throughout the intervention. Effect sizes were calculated to determine the intervention effect by measurement method. Results: At baseline, PA log MVPA was 28 minutes greater than accelerometer-based minutes of MVPA in the active control group. This difference was 35 minutes (95% CI [23.7, 46.1]) greater at follow-up than at baseline measurement in the MVPA intervention group. In the active control group, there was a significant 16-minute (95% CI [6.0, 26.5]) increase between the two measures from baseline to follow-up. The intervention effect size based on the PA log was 0.27 (95% CI [0.14, 0.39]) and 0.42 (95% CI [0.28, 0.56]) when using the accelerometer. Discussion and Conclusions: Our results indicate that PA log MVPA and accelerometer MVPA estimate significantly different minutes per day of MVPA. It is important researchers use caution when comparing MVPA intervention outcomes from different measurement methods.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)34-41
Number of pages8
JournalHealth Education and Behavior
Volume48
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2021

Funding

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by NIH grant R01HL075451 (Spring); clinical trial registration: NCT00113672. Juned Siddique is supported by R01HL127491 and R01HL121606. Whitney A. Welch and Caroline P. Groth are supported by R01HL127491 (Siddique) and R01HL121606 (Siddique). Siobhan M. Phillips is supported by K07CA196840.

Keywords

  • exercise
  • mHealth
  • measurement
  • physical activity diary

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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