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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #200169

Title: Accelerometer data reduction: A comparison of four reduction algorithms on select outcome variables

Author
item MASSE, LOUISE - NATL CANCER INSTITUTE
item FUEMMELER, BERNARD - NATL CANCER INSTITUTE
item Anderson, Cheryl
item MATTHEWS, CHARLES - VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
item TROST, STEWART - VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
item CATELLIER, DIANE - KANSAS STATE UNIV
item TREUTH, MARGARITA - UNC CHAPEL HILL

Submitted to: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/20/2005
Publication Date: 11/20/2005
Citation: Masse, L.C., Fuemmeler, B.F., Anderson, C.B., Matthews, C.E., Trost, S.G., Catellier, D.J., Treuth, M. 2005. Accelerometer data reduction: A comparison of four reduction algorithms on select outcome variables. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 37(11):S544-S554.

Interpretive Summary: This study analyzed the same set of activity monitor data in different ways to determine the impact of different analysis rules on the results. It was found that the analysis rules one uses make a big difference on what is found. The paper suggests some fundamental guidelines that all scientists should use when analyzing data from activity monitors that measure body movement.

Technical Abstract: PURPOSE: Accelerometers are recognized as a valid and objective tool to assess free-living physical activity. Despite the widespread use of accelerometers, there is no standardized way to process and summarize data from them, which limits our ability to compare results across studies. This paper a) reviews decision rules researchers have used in the past, b) compares the impact of using different decision rules on a common data set, and c) identifies issues to consider for accelerometer data reduction. METHODS: The methods sections of studies published in 2003 and 2004 were reviewed to determine what decision rules previous researchers have used to identify wearing period, minimal wear requirement for a valid day, spurious data, number of days used to calculate the outcome variables, and extract bouts of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). For this study, four data reduction algorithms that employ different decision rules were used to analyze the same data set. RESULTS: The review showed that among studies that reported their decision rules, much variability was observed. Overall, the analyses suggested that using different algorithms impacted several important outcome variables. The most stringent algorithm yielded significantly lower wearing time, the lowest activity counts per minute and counts per day, and fewer minutes of MVPA per day. An exploratory sensitivity analysis revealed that the most stringent inclusion criterion had an impact on sample size and wearing time, which in turn affected many outcome variables. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the decision rules employed to process accelerometer data have a significant impact on important outcome variables. Until guidelines are developed, it will remain difficult to compare findings across studies.