title: Feasibility study to objectively assess activity and location of Hispanic preschoolers: a short communication.
abstract: Both physical and social environmental factors influence young children's physical activity, yet little is known about where Hispanic children are more likely to be active. We assessed the feasibility of simultaneously measuring, then processing objective measures of location and physical activity among Hispanic preschool children. Preschool-aged Hispanic children (n = 15) simultaneously wore QStarz BT100X global positioning system (GPS) data loggers and Actigraph GT3X accelerometers for a 24- to 36-hour period, during which time their parents completed a location and travel diary. Data were aggregated to the minute and processed using the personal activity location measurement system (PALMS). Children successfully wore the GPS data loggers and accelerometers simultaneously, 12 of which yielded data that met quality standards. The average percent correspondence between GPS- and diary-based estimates of types of location was high and Kappa statistics were moderate to excellent, ranging from 0.49-0.99. The between-method (GPS monitor, parent-reported diary) correlations of estimated participant-aggregated minutes spent on vehicle-based trips were strong. The simultaneous use of GPS and accelerometers to assess Hispanic preschool children's location and physical activity is feasible. This methodology has the potential to provide more precise findings to inform environmental interventions and policy changes to promote physical activity among Hispanic preschool children.
authors.affiliation: USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030 USA. teresiao@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Teresia M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cerin
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.forename: Rebecca E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Butte
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baranowski
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012931:Social Environment; D014186:Transportation