Estimating Physical Activity from Incomplete Accelerometer Data in Field Studies

Citation

Alhassan, Sofiya; Sirard, John R.; Spencer, Tirzah R.; Varady, Ann; & Robinson, Thomas N. (2008). Estimating Physical Activity from Incomplete Accelerometer Data in Field Studies. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 5(Suppl. 1), S112-125.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to develop a data-driven approach for analyzing incomplete accelerometer data from field-base studies.
Methods: Multiple days of accelerometer data from the Stanford Girls health Enrichment Multi-site Studies (N = 294 African American girls) were summed across each minute of each day to produce a composite weekday and weekend day. Composite method estimates of physical activity were compared with those derived from methods typically described in the literature (comparison methods).
Results: The composite method retained 99.7% and 100% of participants in weekday and weekend-day analysis, respectively, versus 84.7% to 94.2% and 28.6% to 99.0% for the comparison methods. Average wearing times for the composite method for weekday and weekend day were 99.6% and 98.6%, respectively, 91.7% to 93.9% and 82.3% to 95.4% for the comparison methods. Composite-method physical activity estimates were similar to comparison-methods estimates.
Conclusion: The composite method used more available accelerometer data than standard approaches, reducing the need to exclude periods within a day, entire days, and participants from analysis.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jpah.5.s1.s112

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2008

Journal Title

Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Author(s)

Alhassan, Sofiya
Sirard, John R.
Spencer, Tirzah R.
Varady, Ann
Robinson, Thomas N.