Physical Activity Assessment of Preschool Children Using Accelerometer: Including Comparison of Reintegrating Counts of Different Epoch Lengths

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to assess the physical activity of preschool children using an accelerometer and investigate differences related to epoch length setting during use of the accelerometer. Subjects of the study were 26 children (12 boys and 14 girls) at the age of 5, enrolled in one preschool located in Gangneung. From 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (7 hours period), every child wore a total of four accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X⁺, USA), including three attached to the left hip (with epoch length set at 5 seconds, 15 seconds, and 30 seconds). For comparison purposes, a forth was attached to the opposite position, with epoch length set at 5 seconds. Data collected using 15s epoch and 30s epoch (single larger epoch) were compared with those obtained after reintegration of 5s to 15s epoch, 5s to 30s epoch, and 15s to 30s epoch, respectively (smaller epochs reintegrated). According to the results of this study, there were no significant differences in VM between 30s epoch and 5s to 30s epoch reintegrated and in MVPA (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity), between 15s epoch and 5s to 15s epoch reintegrated. From the Bland-Altman plot, reintegration of 15s to 30s epoch in VM and reintegrations of 15s to 30s epoch and 5s to 15s epoch in MVPA can be recommended for assessing physical activity in preschool children. Further research is needed into the reintegration method while using an accelerometer for assessment of energy expenditure in children.