How can Physical Activity be Measured in Primary Health Care ? (original) (raw)

The purpose of this article was to review methods of physical activity (PA) measurement which could be used in primary health care. The CINAHL and MEDLINE databases were consulted for the years 1993 to 2014. Original articles that employed tools, questionnaires, and scales to assess physical activity in older adults and the elderly were included. The selected studies were required to provide information on the use, development, and psychometric properties of the tools. Due to the substantial number of existing PA questionnaires, only those validated in the Spanish population, or with a Spanish version validated in other populations, were analyzed. The tools that could be useful in primary health care due to their ease in application and efficiency are the following. For an initial evaluation of patients prior to prescribing PA the Revised Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (rPAR-Q) is recommended. To assess routine levels of PA in patients the following questionnaires are sui...