Qualitative Feasibility of Using Three Accelerometers With 2–3-Year-Old Children and Both Parents

Purpose: This study assessed mothers' opinions about the feasibility and acceptability of using the ActiGraph GT3X+, Actiheart, and activPAL3 with their 2- to 3-year-old children, as well as with themselves and their husbands/partners, for an 8-day period. Method: Six focus groups were run with Pakistani and White British mothers (n = 17), in English or Urdu, at Children's Centers in Bradford, United Kingdom. Each accelerometer was shown to the mothers while its characteristics and wearing procedures were explained. Mothers were then asked about their opinion on the feasibility of use with their toddlers, themselves, and husbands/partners, as well as their monitor preference. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed through thematic analysis. Results: The ActiGraph was the most preferred accelerometer for use with children, while the Actiheart was the least favorable. The ActiGraph was also the most preferred accelerometer for use with both mothers and fathers. Main issues raised included unsuitability of the Actiheart for fathers due to chest hair, discomfort due to the large size of the activPAL3 in relation to children's thighs, and children pulling off the Actiheart or tampering with the device if its presence was noticed (ActiGraph/Actiheart). Conclusion: The most preferred/accepted accelerometer overall was the ActiGraph GT3X+ for both children and parents. Issues raised with the devices have potential to impact recruitment and compliance rates of studies targeting this population, which highlights the importance of assessing the feasibility/acceptability of different devices with the target population ahead of planning research involving physical activity measurement.

Keywords:

• ActiGraph GT3X+
• Actiheart
• activPAL3
• South Asian

Acknowledgments

The first author is funded by a doctoral studentship from the School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences at Loughborough University. This article presents independent research commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under the Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) program for Leeds, York, and Bradford, UK. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of the National Health Service, the NIHR, or the Department of Health.

The translation and transliteration of all study materials into Urdu was supported by the BIB Study. The researchers would like to thank Miss Shaheen Akhtar (BIB Study) for acting as an interpreter, moderating the Urdu-speaking focus group, and carrying out the subsequent transcription and translation of the recorded data into English; Miss Sameera Ali (BIB Study) for helping with the recruitment of South Asian mothers and acting as an interpreter; Miss Ann Barratt (BIB Study) for facilitating the links with the children's centers; and Dr. Ines Varela-Silva (Loughborough University) for providing the Actiheart devices and explanations about its use.