title: Event-based analysis of free-living behaviour.
abstract: The quantification of free-living physical activities is important in understanding how physical activity and sedentary behaviour impact on health and also on how interventions might modify free-living behaviour to enhance health. Quantification, and the terminology used, has in many ways been determined by the choice of measurement technique. The inter-related issues around measurement devices and terminology used are explored. This paper proposes a terminology and a systematic approach for the analysis of free-living activity information using event-based activity data. The event-based approach uses a flexible hierarchical classification of events and, dependent on the research question, analysis can then be undertaken on a selection of these events. The quantification of free-living behaviour is therefore the result of the analysis on the patterns of these chosen events. The application of this approach is illustrated with results from a range of published studies by our group showing how event-based analysis provides a flexible yet robust method of addressing the research question(s) and provides a deeper insight into free-living behaviour. It is proposed that it is through event-based analysis we can more clearly understand how behaviour is related to health and also how we can produce more relevant outcome measures.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA, UK. malcolm.granat@gcu.ac.uk
authors.forename: Malcolm H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Granat
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D009626:Terminology as Topic