Developing the Physical Activity Assessment Tool for Use in Medical Settings

Tulane University: Prevention Research Center

Topics:
Nutrition & Physical Activity for Adults

The Physical Activity Assessment Tool (PAAT) is of good potential use by clinic providers to assess the physical activity (PA) behaviors of patients. This project is enhancing and validating the PAAT, and determining the feasibility of its use in a broad spectrum of the population. Interviews with experts in PA measurement, primary care research, and health behavior interventions are being conducted to determine what they would like to see in a PA assessment and tracking tool. Based on these interviews, the researchers will revise the PAAT to ensure that its structure and content are valid and to strengthen its accuracy and reliability in measuring the frequency, intensity, type, and duration of moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA. Researchers will also ensure the tool is culturally appropriate for and understood by a wide range of patients. The PAAT will be validated among 132 low-income, community members by comparing it with MIT data from accelerometers, the Modified Activity Questionnaire, and a 7-day PA Recall. The tracking component will also be revised based on experts’ and physicians’ feedback the PAAT will be used with 220 patients in six primary care practices to determine its feasibility in primary care clinics as a chart variable and tracking tool for prompting and documenting provider counseling on PA.

 

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