BioPsychoSocial Assessment Tools for the Elderly - Assessment Summary Sheet

Test: Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA)

Year: 2006

Domain: Biological

Assessment Tool Category: Physical Function

Variations/Translations: The Telephone Assessment of Physical Activity (TAPA) questionnaire was developed based on the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) in 2008. The TAPA questionnaire was created so that the test could be administered over the phone. The test captures the activity level of the participant. TAPA has similar questions and is scored the same as the RAPA. Both the validity and the reliability of this test are acceptable.

Setting: Clinical setting

Method of Delivery: Self-administered questionnaire

Description: A 9-item, self-administered questionnaire regarding current levels of physical activity of adults older than 50 years. RAPA evaluates a wide range of physical activity level, from sedentary to vigorous activity, as well as strength and flexibility training.

Scoring/Interpretation: Each question has a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ option. The total score of the first seven items is out of 7; participants choose which question corresponds to their activity level. Any score less than 6 is considered suboptimal. Strength training and flexibility are scored separately (strength training = 1, flexibility = 2, both = 3)

Time to Administer: 5 minutes

Availability: Available to the public online.

Software: N/A

Website: http://depts.washington.edu/hprc/docs/rapa_03_06.pdf

Quantitative/Qualitative: Quantitative

Validity (Quantitative): Adequate convergent validity, good criterion validity

Reliability (Quantitative): Further testing required to establish reliability.

References:

Mayer, C.J., Steinman, L., Williams, B., Topolski, T.D., & LoGerfo, J. (2008). Developing a Telephone Assessment of Physical Activity (TAPA) Questionnaire for Older Adults. Preventing Chronic Disease, 5(1), 24-25.

Topolski, T. D., LoGerfo, J., Patrick, D. L., Williams, B., Walwick, J., Patrick, M. B. (2006). The Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) among older adults. Preventing Chronic Disease, 3(4), 1-8.

University of Washing Health Promotion Research Center. (2006). How physically active are you? An assessment of level and intensity of physical activity. Retrieved March 30 2009, from http://depts.washington.edu/hprc/publications/rapa.htm.

Comments: Moderate to excellent sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value analysis were listed for RAPA (Topolski et al., 2006). There is no mention in the literature on interpretation of strength training/flexibility score.