title: Criterion validity of a computer-based tutorial for teaching waist circumference self-measurement.
abstract: Knowing one's waist circumference (WC) is a primary step in assessing risk of disease and health disorders. One concern, however, is the accuracy with which WC measurements are taken. This study attempted to determine the effectiveness of a computer-based tutorial (CBT) in teaching previously untrained individuals to properly self-measure WC. Eighty-three subjects used the CBT to learn and perform WC self-measurement. Validity of the subjects' measurements was determined by comparing their measurements to a traditionally trained and experienced tester's. Bland-Altman and Box-Whisker comparisons revealed an average 1.57cm bias in the subjects' WC measurements. Bland-Altman bias plots illustrated agreement between the subjects' and experienced tester's measurements. Pearson correlation (r=0.97) showed no significant (p<0.0001) difference between the two groups. The results of this experiment suggest that the tested CBT is efficacious in teaching WC self-measurement. The tutorial could be used in the areas of health assessment, standardization, biomedical education and research.
authors.affiliation: WElliott101@HealthBuilding.com
authors.forename: William Leland
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012986:Software Validation; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult