Abstract
Citation
Kerr J, Carlson JA, Sallis JF, Rosenberg D, Leak CR, Saelens BE, Chapman JE, Frank LD, Cain KL, Conway TL, King AC. Assessing health-related resources in senior living residences. J Aging Stud 2011 Aug;25(3):206-214.
Abstract
This study evaluated a new tool, "The Audit of Physical Activity Resources for Seniors" (APARS), which assesses the physical activity environment in Senior Living Residences (SLRs). Audits were conducted in 29 SLRs and inter-rater reliability was assessed. Pearson correlations were examined between APARS items and objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time, and self-rated health, collected from residents at a subset of 12 SLRs (N=147). Eighty-nine of the 90 items (98.9%) demonstrated Kappa or ICC values above .70 and/or percent agreement above 80%. The 90 items were summarized into nine scales. Two scales (outside supportive physical activity features/functionality and outside exercise facilities) were related to greater physical activity and less sedentary time. Four scales (inside social facilities, onsite services, exercise programs, and social activities) were related to greater sedentary time and better self-rated health. APARS items demonstrated adequate inter-rater reliability and some evidence for construct validity to assess health-related environments in retirement facilities. Social activities in SLRs could benefit residents by incorporating more physical activity. Use of APARS could inform more health-promoting designs of senior living facilities.
Full Text
The full text is available at https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2011.03.004
At A Glance
Physical Activity Environment Variables
| # | Type of Environment/Location |
|---|---|
| 29 | Senior Living Residence |
| # | Scale |
|---|---|
| - | Trail/path/corridor |
| - | Recreation courts, Spa/ wellness center |
| Measure | objective | perceived |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing/Advertising/Promotion | ✔ | ✘ |
| Crime/Safety | ✔ | ✘ |
| Pedestrian/Traffic Safety | ✔ | ✘ |
| Cycling Infrastructure | ✔ | ✘ |
| Facility Adequacy/Appeal or Quality | ✔ | ✘ |
| Facility Access/Availablity/Proximity | ✔ | ✘ |
| Aesthetics/Beautification | ✔ | ✘ |
| Pedestrian Infrastructure | ✔ | ✘ |
| Open Space/Greenness | ✔ | ✘ |
Domain(s)
Physical Activity Environment
Measure Type
Questionnaire
Measure Availability
Free. Access at http://sallis.ucsd.edu/measure_apars.html
Number of Items
90 Reported
Study location
Metro/Urban
Seattle, Baltimore, San Diego, Palo Alto, Washington, Maryland, California, USA
Languages
English
Information about Development of Measure
The Audit of Physical Activity Resources for Seniors (APARS) items were developed following a literature review of tools that assessed living environments for seniors and design guidelines. The review confirmed the absence of a tool that assessed physical activity environments, but it did provide guidance on important features for safety and examples of audit tool structure. Other tools related to physical activity were also reviewed, and expert input was provided.
Study Design
Study Participants
Age
Adults
Sex
Female
Male
Race/Ethnicity
White
Non-white
Predominantly Low-income/Low-SES
Not reported
Sample Size
147
Study Design
Design Type
Validation/Reliability
Health Outcomes Assessed
None
Obesity Measures
BMI for age
BMI Measured or Self-reported
Self-reported height
Self-reported weight
Covariates
Not available
Data Reported on Race/Ethnicity
Quantitative data on study sample
Data Reported on SES
Quantitative data on study sample
SES-related Variables
Education
How To Use
Administration
Who Administered
Researcher-administered
How Administered
Direct observation, hard-copy form
Time Required
60-90 minutes
Training Required
Yes, time not reported
Instructions on Use
Instructions on instrument use included in article
Data Analysis
Data Collection/Analysis Costs
Not reported
Data Collection/Protocol
Most site visits commenced with a brief tour of the facilities by the site contact, and then researchers proceeded with their systematic audit of the facility. Researchers used an aluminum measuring wheel to measure the distance of the longest walking path. Raters started the observation on the outside of the facility and proceeded indoors. Buildings that were used only for nursing care were not assessed. Two raters completed the tool independently at each site. Participants at twelve sites wore an accelerometer for seven days, and then completed a Quality of life/Self-Rated Health (SRH) survey.
Instructions on Data Analysis
Instructions on analysis included in article
Validity (2)
| Type of validity | Construct/subscale assessed | Criterion measure used | Test/statistic used | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criterion | Audits of Physical Activity Resources for Seniors (APARS) scales | Quality of life/Self-Rated Health (SRH) survey score | Spearman correlation (r) | r = 0.098, NS to 0.353, p < = 0.01 |
| Criterion | Audits of Physical Activity Resources for Seniors (APARS) scales | Accelerometer, Moderate to vigorous physical activity, total minutes | Spearman correlation (r) | r = 0.005, NS to 0.262, p < = 0.01 |
Reliability (1)
| Type of reliability | Construct/subscale assessed | Test/statistic used | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter-rater | Audits of Physical Activity Resources for Seniors (APARS) scales | Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) | ICC = 0.432 to 0.975 |