Physical activity surveillance in Australia: Standardisation is overdue
Oral Presentation A3.3
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.387Keywords:
Physical Activity, Surveillance, MeasurementAbstract
Background: Physical inactivity remains a substantial contributor to chronic disease and ill-health in Australia. A stable surveillance system is necessary to understand the magnitude of the problem, assess its contribution to the burden of disease and monitor the impact of policies and programs to address it. Purpose: To determine and compare how Australian States and Territories measure the proportion of their adult populations who meet the recommended levels for being ‘sufficiently active’ over time. Methods: A detailed audit was conducted of the questions and definitions used by State and Territory health-sector surveys to determine adult population levels of sufficient physical activity over time. The State and Territory survey trends were compared with the state-level trends derived using the consistent Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) National Health Survey. Results: Survey questions and definitions were sustained and comparable in New South Wales and Queensland, with minor modifications in Western Australia. In South Australia, the comparability of trend data was disrupted in 2018 with a change in reporting of age groups. Victoria and Tasmania have used different definitions and questions over time. The state and territory health survey systems have produced much greater variability in physical activity than is suggested by the ABS’ state-level analysis. Conclusions: The lack of uniformity has reduced comparability of prevalence within and between jurisdictions. Standardisation is required if physical activity trends are to be reliably interpreted to inform policy and practice. Funding: Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) as provided to The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre.
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Copyright (c) 2021 Adrian E. Bauman, Tracy Nau, Sophie Cassidy, Stephen Gilbert, William Bellew, Ben J. Smith
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