Development and validation of the Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ) in 14 countries: study protocol

Richard Larouche, Mahdi Rostami Haji Abadi, Salomé Aubert, Jasmin Bhawra, Javier Brazo-Sayavera, Valerie Carson, Rachel C. Colley, Christine Delisle Nyström, Dale W. Esliger, Ryan Harper-Brown, Silvia Alejandra Gonzalez Cifuentes, Alejandra Jáuregui, Piyawat Katewongsa, Anuradha Khadilkar, Geoff Kira, Nicholas Kuzik, Yang Liu, Marie Lof, Tom Loney, Taru ManyangaTawonga W. Mwase-Vuma, Adewale L. Oyeyemi, John J. Reilly, Justin Richards, Karen Roberts, Olga Lucia Sarmiento, Diego Augusto Santos Silva, Melody Smith, Narayan Subedi, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Dyah Anantalia Widyastari, Oliver W.A. Wilson, S. H. Wong, Mark S. Tremblay

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction Global surveillance of physical activity (PA) of children and adolescents with questionnaires is limited by the use of instruments developed in high-income countries (HICs) lacking sociocultural adaptation, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); under-representation of some PA domains; and omission of active play, an important source of PA. Addressing these limitations would help improve international comparisons, and facilitate the cross-fertilisation of ideas to promote PA. We aim to develop and assess the reliability and validity of the app-based Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ) among 8–17 years old in 14 LMICs and HICs representing all continents; and generate the ‘first available data’ on active play in most participating countries. Methods and analysis Our study involves eight stages: (1) systematic review of psychometric properties of existing PA questionnaires for children and adolescents; (2) development of the GAC-PAQ (first version); (3) content validity assessment with global experts; (4) cognitive interviews with children/adolescents and parents in all 14 countries; (5) development of a revised GAC-PAQ; (6) development and adaptation of the questionnaire app (application); (7) pilot-test of the app-based GAC-PAQ; and, (8) main study with a stratified, sex-balanced and urban/ rural-balanced sample of 500 children/adolescents and one of their parents/guardians per country. Participants will complete the GAC-PAQ twice to assess 1-week test–retest reliability and wear an ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometer for 9 days to test concurrent validity. To assess convergent validity, subsamples (50 adolescents/country) will simultaneously complete the PA module from existing international surveys.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere082275
JournalBMJ open
Volume14
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Jul 2024

Keywords

  • Health Surveys
  • PUBLIC HEALTH
  • Psychometrics
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Development and validation of the Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ) in 14 countries: study protocol'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this