Validating My E-Diary for Activities and Lifstyle (MEDAL) to assess children's movement behaviours

Oral Presentation A6.1

Authors

  • Sarah Yi Xuan Tan National University of Singapore; National University Health System
  • Airu Chia National University of Singapore; National University Health System
  • Padmapriya Natarajan National University of Singapore; National University Health System
  • Claire Marie Jie Lin Goh National University of Singapore; National University Health System
  • Bee Choo Tai National University of Singapore; National University Health System
  • Lynette Pei-Chi Shek National University of Singapore; National University Health System
  • Seang Mei Saw National University of Singapore; National University Health System; Singapore National Eye Centre; Duke-NUS Medical School
  • Foong-Fong Mary Chong National University of Singapore; National University Health System; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences
  • Falk Müller-Riemenschneider National University of Singapore; National University Health System

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.396

Keywords:

Children, MEDAL, Web-Based Application, Criterion Validity, Movement Behaviour

Abstract

Background: My E-Diary for Activities and Lifestyle (MEDAL) is an interactive web-based diary developed to collect time-use information from children aged 10 years and older. Purpose: To compare time spent in movement behaviours (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, light physical activity, inactivity and sleep) between children’s self-report on MEDAL and by wrist-worn accelerometers. Methods: Children aged 10-11 years recorded their daily activities over four days, and wore an Actigraph accelerometer on their non-dominant wrist throughout the study. Accelerometer data were processed using GGIR 2.0. Spearman correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient were used to compare self-reported and accelerometer-measured time spent in each movement behaviour. Results: Among the participants (n=49), moderate-to-strong correlations were found between self-reported and accelerometer-measured MVPA (r=0.37, p<0.001), inactivity (r=0.36, p<0.001) and night sleep (r=0.58, p<0.001), while the correlation for LPA was poor (r=0.19, p=0.031). Agreement for all behaviours was poor (MVPA ICC=0.24, p=0.004; LPA ICC=0.19, p=0.019; inactivity ICC=0.29, p=0.001; night sleep ICC=0.45, p<0.001). Stronger correlation and agreement were found on weekdays for inactivity and night sleep, and on weekend days for MVPA and LPA. Conclusions: Children can be ranked by their self-reported MVPA, inactivity and night sleep on MEDAL, although actual time spent in these behaviours may differ from accelerometer-derived estimates; self-reported LPA warrant cautious interpretation. Observable differences in reporting accuracy exist between weekdays and weekend days. Funding: NUHS Summit Research Program Partnership, and co-funded by NUS ODPRT, NUS SSH School of Public Health and NUS YLL School of Medicine.

Published

2021-09-30

How to Cite

Tan, S. Y. X., Chia, A., Natarajan, P., Goh, C. M. J. L., Tai, B. C., Shek, L. P.-C., Saw, S. M., Chong, F.-F. M., & Müller-Riemenschneider, F. (2021). Validating My E-Diary for Activities and Lifstyle (MEDAL) to assess children’s movement behaviours: Oral Presentation A6.1. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.396