Abstract
Objective:
To determine the validity of the ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer in step count quantification when compared to observed step count in hospitalised adults recovering from critical illness.
Setting:
Large National Health Service (NHS) Hospitals Trust.
Subjects:
In total, 20 hospital ward-based adults (age: mean 62.3, SD 11.5) who had required greater than 48 hours of mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit.
Main measures:
Participants walked self-selected distances and speeds as part of a semi-structured movement protocol not exceeding 3 hours. Two ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers were worn, one on the thigh and one on the ankle of the non-dominant leg. Accelerometer-recorded step counts were compared against observed step counts.
Results:
In total, 31 separate walking episodes were analysed. A mean (SD) of 45.87 (±19.72) steps was calculated for observed step count (range 15–90). Mean differences (95% limits of agreement) of −0.84 steps (−3.88 to 2.2) for the ankle placement and −17.7 steps (−40.63 to 5.25) for the thigh were calculated. Intraclass correlation coefficients (95% confidence intervals) of 0.99 (0.99 to 1.0) and 0.46 (−0.1 to 0.78) were determined for the ankle and thigh, respectively. Placement sites were well tolerated by 95% of participants.
Conclusion:
An ankle-mounted ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer demonstrates validity in quantification of step count in hospitalised adults recovering from critical illness. A thigh placement was not considered valid.
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