title: Validation of a physical activity questionnaire (CHAMPS) as an indicator of postoperative recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although many surgical innovations are said to "shorten recovery," recovery has not been consistently defined or measured. The goal of this study was to assess the validity of a physical activity questionnaire (The Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors [CHAMPS]) as an indicator of postoperative recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  CHAMPS includes 41 questions asking the subject to estimate the time spent on a range of activities in the previous week; responses are converted into kcal/kg/wk. Patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were assessed preoperatively, 1 week and 1 month postoperatively (sensitivity to change). To assess construct validity, results were compared with other measures used to estimate recovery, including pain (VAS), health-related quality of life (SF-36), and complications. CHAMPS was also compared with a measure of exercise capacity, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Data expressed as median (IQR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 50 patients, 72% female, mean (SD) age 51 (17) years, participated. CHAMPS-estimated energy expenditure decreased from 42 [25-64] preop to 18 [9-30] kcal/kg/wk (P < .001) 1 week postoperatively. It remained below baseline at 30 [16-61] kcal/kg/wk 1 month postoperatively (P = .042). At all time points, SF-36 Physical Function, pain with movement, and 6MWT distance significantly correlated with CHAMPS. At 1 month, physical activity was lower in patients reporting complications (16 [10-32] vs 42 [18-77], P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence is provided for construct validity for a physical activity questionnaire as a measure of surgical recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. liane.feldman@muhc.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Liane S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: Pepa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaneva
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demyttenaere
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carli
authors.forename: Gerald M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fried
authors.forename: Nancy E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Mayo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology