THE POTENTIAL VALUE OF A SHORT SELF-COMPLETION QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF HABITUAL PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY IN PREGNANCY

The aim of this methodological study was to validate a newly designed self-completion questionnaire assessing various dimensions of physical activity among 100 pregnant women in Bristol, UK. For this purpose di fferent measures obtained by self-completion questionnaire were compar ed with those simultaneously obtained by two established assessment me thods for physical exertion. Based on the findings it was suggested th at the self-completion questionnaire be slightly modified by adding qu estions pertaining to household activities and deleting questions whic h proved to-be conceptually meaningless. It is concluded that in futur e studies this strategy will facilitate the understanding of the compl ex relationship between way of life and pregnancy outcome.