A qualitative study of older adults' responses to sitting-time questions: do we get the information we want?
2011

Understanding Sitting-Time Questions in Older Adults

Sample size: 55 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): van Uffelen Jannique GZ, Heesch Kristiann C, Hill Robert L, Brown Wendy J

Primary Institution: The University of Queensland

Hypothesis

How do older adults understand and respond to sitting-time questions in physical activity questionnaires?

Conclusion

Older adults struggle with self-reporting their sitting time accurately due to confusion over the questions and the activities they should include.

Supporting Evidence

  • Participants reported various sitting activities, with many struggling to understand what to include.
  • Most participants found the IPAQ sitting question too difficult to answer.
  • Responses varied significantly based on the understanding of the question's scope.

Takeaway

Older people find it hard to answer questions about how much they sit because they don't always understand what the questions mean.

Methodology

Participants aged 65+ were interviewed using cognitive interviewing techniques to assess their understanding of sitting-time questions.

Potential Biases

Participants may have been influenced by the interview setting and the presence of researchers.

Limitations

Findings may not be generalizable due to the sample being well-educated and healthy older adults.

Participant Demographics

Participants were community-dwelling adults aged 65+, with a mix of education levels and health statuses.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2458-11-458

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