Desenvolvimento e validação de um questionário para medir o nível de atividade física de escolares do ensino fundamental 2

Abstract

Physical activity is a complex behavior that, when adopted during childhood and adolescence, tends to persist throughout life. A physically active lifestyle is associated with numerous positive health outcomes and obesity prevention. This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire designed to measure the level of physical activity in elementary school students (NAFE). This is a methodological study focused on the development of instruments. The stages of this process were divided into 1) Literature review, 2) Development of the questionnaire items, and 3) Evaluation of validity evidence. The participants in this study included experts in the field and elementary school students. The content evaluation by experts (n=14) achieved an excellent Content Validity Coefficient (CVC), with clarity (CVC=0.93), relevance (CVC=0.99), and pertinence (CVC=0.99). The content evaluation by the target audience (n=54) achieved clarity (CVC=0.96), appropriateness (CVC=0.97), and comprehension (CVC=0.96). The internal consistency analysis of the different NAFE domains, assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, revealed high-reliability values. Test-retest reliability was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The ICC for single measures was 0.600 (95% CI: 0.408 to 0.729). Concurrent validity was tested by comparing results with the IPAQ, QAFA, and PAQ-C questionnaires. The concurrent validation results were not significant. A NAFE manual was developed to guide and facilitate future research, addressing the importance of investigating behaviors, challenges, and difficulties related to physical activity in this age group. In the context of research and public health promotion policies, the NAFE emerges as an additional tool to investigate the participation of students from different regions and socioeconomic contexts in physical activities. Researchers and public policymakers can use the NAFE to map and monitor different physical practices, seeking to promote equality in access to safe spaces and guided physical activities. These research efforts and public policies can contribute early on to the formation of healthy habits, the maintenance of physical and mental health, improvement in academic performance, and socialization, thus strengthening the validity and applicability of the NAFE in future research.