Read the Article:
The article is peer‑reviewed and published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Sports and Active Living:
Device-based physical activity measures for population surveillance—issues of selection bias and reactivity
What is the study about?
The study is a quantitative observational study based on questionnaire data and accelerometer measurements. In total, 163,133 adults from Moving Denmark are included, of whom 1,525 provided accelerometer data, along with 829 non-respondents interviewed by telephone.
The study examines selection bias and the Hawthorne effect in physical activity measurement by comparing self-reported activity across four different samples.
Main conclusions:
- Participants who accept device-based measurement are more self-reported physically active than the general population (selection bias).
- Signs of a Hawthorne effect are observed, with physical activity increasing markedly during the monitoring week.
- Device-based measurements challenge representativeness in population-based physical activity surveillance.
Published: 2023
Authors:
Lars Breum Christiansen, Forskningsenheden Active Living, SDU
Sofie Koch, Forskningsenheden Active Living, SDU
Adrian Bauman, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia; School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia
Mette Toftager, Forskningsenheden Active Living, SDU
Christina Bjørk Petersen, Statens Institut for Folkesundhed, SDU
Jasper Schipperijn, Forskningsenheden Active Living, SDU.
Contact:
Lars Breum, lbchristiansen@health.sdu.dk
Support/Funding:
Nordea-fonden and University of Southern Denmark