Assessment of participation in physical activities and relationship to socioeconomic and health factors - The controversial value of self-perception

Physician counseling on physical activities for sedentary people is usually based on anamneses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the accuracy of self-perception of participation in physical activities, and the correlation of physical activity with background factors. A random sample of 276 individuals aged 20-65 years completed a detailed questionnaire on type and intensity of physical activity and associated socioeconomic and health factors. Physical activities were divided into work, leisure-time, and sports and rated according to Baecke's four-item index. In addition, subjects answered a yes/no item that resembled the general question regarding physical activity usually asked by physicians in a typical anamnesis. About half of the population was found to lead a sedentary life-style. The lower the level of education, the greater the physical activity at work. Males had a higher sports index than females. Interestingly, 1.3% of those with a high questionnaire score reported on the anamnesis question that they did not engage in regular physical activity, whereas 17.5% with a low questionnaire score answered yes to the last item. In conclusion, self-reports on physical activity may be inaccurate and to ensure proper counseling, primary care physicians must place greater weight on the patient history. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.