It is well understood that substantial health inequality exists for adults with an intellectual disability (AWID). In comparison to the general population AWID experience higher rates of morbidity and mortality associated with sedentary lifestyles, yet little is known about the role physical activity plays in preventing or mediating this outcome for this segment of society. Without appropriate instrumentation, it is not possible to address the inadequacies that currently exist in the area of physical activity and AWID. The primary aim of the series of studies in this thesis was to develop a psychometrically sound proxy-respondent measurement tool that could be used by researchers, epidemiologists and public health personnel to gather information on the physical activity behaviours of AWID. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) is an internationally published tool with good psychometric properties when used as a self-report tool with adults without a disability (AWOID), but no evidence exists as to the validity or reliability of this tool when used by proxy respondents to report on the physical activity behaviour of AWID. Given little is known about the energy expenditure characteristics of AWID, nor the accuracy of tools developed for AWOID when applied to AWID, two secondary aims of this thesis were to measure the energy expended by AWID and AWOID during seven common activities of daily living (ADL) and to assess the accuracy of an objective physical activity measurement tool (Caltrac® accelerometer) for use with AWID. Evidence gathered through the studies in this thesis found that as the energy demand of ADL increased there was an increase in the difference between energy expended by AWID and AWOID. Results indicated that AWID achieved moderate-intensity physical activity when walking at a pace of 3.0 km/hr or more. The proxy-respondent telephone questionnaire (IPAQ-ID) described in this thesis allows for universal assessment of the physical activity behaviours of AWID. The IPAQ-ID was found to have measurement properties equivalent to measurement tools used among AWOID. The IPAQ-ID was found to be suitable for use as a surveillance tool by researchers to collect comparable data on health-enhancing physical activity behaviours of AWID.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/210257 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Lante, Kerrie, kerries@vegas.com.au |
| Publisher | RMIT University. Medical Sciences |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://www.rmit.edu.au/help/disclaimer, Copyright Kerrie Lante |
Page generated in 0.0031 seconds