Reliability Of Anthropometric Measurements Conducted In National Physical Fitness Standard (SEGAK) Assessments Among School-Aged Adolescents In Terengganu, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

@#School-based health programs implemented by the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE) through the National Physical Fitness Standard (SEGAK) assessments provided an important platform in health status monitoring among schoolchildren. However, to date, there is still no reliability study conducted on this method. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the reliability of the anthropometric data collected by physical education (PE) teachers in the SEGAK assessments. Anthropometry measurements of standard six school adolescents involved in the Health of Adolescents in Terengganu study were taken by trained researchers using a standardised protocol. The anthropometrics data were then compared with PE teachers’ measurements from the SEGAK assessments obtained from the specifically developed Health Monitoring System database. Reliability of the anthropometric measurements were analysed using Pearson’s correlation test, Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), Bland-Altman plot and Cohen’s Kappa statistics. Intraclass correlation coefficient between teacher-measured and researcher-measured values shows good correlation in weight (ICC = 0.93), height (ICC = 0.98) and BMI (ICC = 0.91). The Bland-Altman plot showed a relatively small difference in mean of weight, height, and BMI between teacher-measured and researcher-measured value. The mean difference between teacher-measured and researcher-measured value of weight, height, and BMI were 1.8kg, 0.1cm, and 0.8kg/m2 respectively. Overall, Cohen’s Kappa statistics showed substantial agreement (κ = 0.642) in BMI categorisation between the two measurements. Findings from reliability analysis conducted affirmed that anthropometrics assessments conducted by PE teachers in SEGAK assessments are reliable to be used for identification of body weight status among school children and adolescents particularly in Terengganu, Malaysia.