The Measurement of Physical Activity

The Measurement of Physical Activity

Physical activities and physical fitness are complex entities comprising numerous

diverse components that present a challenge in terms of accurate and reliable

measurement (Haskell, 2007). Developing and evaluating physical activity intervention

requires reliable, valid, cost effective, practical and unobtrusive means of measurement

(Kowalski, 2012). The measurement of physical activity in the present study was similar

to that used in the study by Khiang Nang et al. (2010) where an interview-administered

questionnaire with a recall period of the previous 7 days was used. Their questionnaire

was adapted from several established questionnaires validated in other populations and

intensity and type of setting of the physical activity performed (Kowalski, 2012;

Shephard, 2003). Frequency is usually expressed as the number of times a given

activity is performed in a week and an important aspect of frequency is whether a

person does a day’s activity in a single session or whether the activity is split into

several smaller parts (Shephard, 2003). Duration of an individual exercise may be

combined with frequency to indicate the total number of minutes accumulated; however,

if absolute intensity of effort has to be estimated for the purposes of a study, then

figures should cite the corresponding gross or net energy expenditure, expressed in

kilojoule or MET (Shephard, 2003).

There are many common terms to describe the intensity of physical activity, such as

Prescatello et al., 2014). Light-intensity has sometimes been used interchangeably with

activity involves energy expenditure of 1.6 to <3 METs compared to 1.0 to 1.5 METs for

sedentary behaviour (Pate et al., 2008). Light-intensity activities include slow walking,

sitting and writing, cooking food or washing dishes (Pate et al., 2008).

In the questionnaire, there were 12 items on physical activities commonly carried out by

the general population and these covered three types of intensity. The three types of

intensity were light intensity (<2.9 MET), moderate intensity (3.0 – 5.9 MET) and

vigorous intensity (>6.0 MET) (Ainsworth et al., 2011). The type of intensity for the

activities listed in the questionnaire was coded based on the Compendium of Physical

Activities (Ainsworth et al., 1993). For instance, a participant reported performing

aerobics and according to the Compendium, general aerobics requires 6.0 MET and as

Malaysia recommendation for adults aged between 18 and 64 years is to perform at

least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week or at least 75 minutes

of vigorous-intensity physical activity (Ministry of Health Malaysia, 2018).

However, there are reports that high-intensity physical activity can be associated with

unpleasant feelings due to higher perceived exertion (Ekkekakis 2006). The literature

examining the association between physical activity and HRQOL among general adults

is limited and the available literature shows a positive relationship between physical

activity and quality of life (Bize, 2007). Based on the available literature, we theorise

that there is a positive association between performing vigorous-intensity physical

activity with quality of life. It is also a practical decision to use intensity as an outcome

Malaysian policy-makers and the general public who are more familiar with intensity

NGOs who started their programmes from April until May 2013 were included; this was

to coincide with the researcher going back to Malaysia for data collection. All NGOs

involved in the study were provided by the Health Promotion Board Malaysia. The

NGOs involved in the present study are detailed in Table 1 below.

Table 1: NGOs involved in the present study

No. NGOs’ name English translation Main physical activity

carried out

1. Kelab Sukan Komuniti Keramat Valley Sports Badminton

Lembah Keramat (Kesumat) Club

2. Kelab Sukan Komuniti Dynamic Community Aerobic type exercise

Pulau Pinang (PKSM) Association

5. Persatuan Komuniti Sejahtera The Peaceful Community Aerobic type exercise

Kampung Kepala Bukit Tobiar of Kepala Hill Village

(Tobiar) Tobiar

6. Kampung Kuala Merah, The Kuala Merah Village Aerobic type exercise

Kuala Ketil Health Info Centre Health Info Centre

(KK)

7. Persatuan Belia Seri Warisan Seri Warisan of Shah Aerobic type exercise

Shah Alam (BSW) Alam Association

Four NGOs are from Selangor and Kuala Lumpur (Klang Valley) they are Kesumat,

Selangor is the most industrialised state in Malaysia encircling Kuala Lumpur. The

and KK are based in the countryside in the state of Kedah, which is a state

neighbouring Penang also in the north of Peninsular Malaysia.

the club is a retired colonel of the Royal Malaysian Army. The NGO organised several

of the committee members live in that area.

Dynamic is a women’s NGO based in Keramat but, unlike Kesumat, members are not

from any particular occupation or industries. However, most of the members are cancer

survivors or have a family history of fighting the disease. This NGO organised activities

such as aerobics exercise and hiking, and it is likely that during these activities the

members share their challenges as well as provide informal support to one another.

Rikmas is a NGO based in Semenyih, a town in the Hulu Langat district. The members

of this NGO are of mixed gender but mostly women and are all of Malay ethnicity. Most

of the members live in Semenyih. This NGO organises an aerobics exercise session

during weekend mornings at an open space courtesy of a local businessman.

office of a political party who partly fund some of the programmes run by the NGO.

The PKSM is an NGO based in Penang, an island town in the north of Malaysia. This

NGO organised aerobics exercise sessions at two locations within the island: Taman

Metropolitan Relau and the Penang International Sports Arena. The exercise sessions

donations to sustain the programme. As attendees are not necessarily members, they

are usually made up of small groups of friends.

state of Kedah. The village is about 30 minutes’ drive from Alor Setar, the capital state

of Kedah. Members of this NGO are mostly of Malay ethnicity with a few Siamese.

Members are trained by the local health department on simple health activities such as

aerobics exercise, taking blood pressure readings and calculating

BMI. Activities held by the NGO provide opportunities for social interaction among

villagers during out-of-work hours.

KK is another village-based NGO; the NGO is in Kuala Merah, in the district of Kuala

among members who live in the village.

The Health Promotion Board Malaysia is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health

Malaysia. The objective of the Board is to promote healthy lifestyles by working with the

NGOs. The Board undertakes to empower organisations and communities through

training and capacity-building initiatives to improve health. Among the support provided

by the Board to the NGOs was financial assistance to conduct various health promotion

activities. The present study focussed on the NGOs who received funding to run

physical activity programmes.

Procedure

The present study was conducted with assistance from the Health Promotion Board

recruitment of participants. In the present study, the researcher first contacted the

organisers of the NGOs via telephone calls based on the list provided by the Health

Promotion Board Malaysia. An organiser from each of the NGOs that agreed to take

part in this study, acted as the contact person for the organisations. The organisers

were asked to notify their members about the study and help to distribute and collect

questionnaires for the baseline study. By involving the organiser, the researcher hoped

to be seen as respecting them as the “gatekeeper” to their organisation. In addition, this

would help to recruit more participants as members of the NGOs would volunteer to

participate as a sign of approval and respect to their organisers.