SCREENING EFFICIENCY OF THE REVISED PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE IN OLDER ADULTS

The Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PARQ) offers a safe pre exercise screening of participants prior to physical activity involvem ent. However, the measure seems to screen out a relatively high propor tion of apparently healthy older adults. In an attempt to improve this situation, an expert panel convened by Fitness Canada worked to revis e the measure (rPARQ). The present study compares the number of exclus ions resulting from the original and revised PARQ instruments in older adults (84 men, 85 women; M age 76.5 yrs). The number of participants screened out by the rPARQ decreased significantly (p < .001), from 13 9 to 105. Agreement between measures was achieved in 78.7% of the part icipants (Cohen's kappa = .50). In an effort to promote physical activ ity involvement, researchers and practitioners are encouraged to consi der the use of the recently developed rPARQ over the PARQ as a preexer cise screening alternative.