Cultural adaptation and validation of the Polish version of the physical activity scale for older people living in a community: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Polish clinicians and researchers face challenges in selecting physical activity tools appropriate and validated for older people. The aim of this study is to provide cultural adaptation and validation of the Polish version of the Physical Activity Scale for Elderly (PASE-P). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 115 older adults living in south-eastern Poland. The original version of the scale has been translated into the Polish language following standardized translation procedures. Validation was evaluated by Pearson’s rank correlation coefficients between PASE-P, the normal Timed Up and Go test and that with a cognitive task (TUG and TUG cog, respectively), grip strength, basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL and IADL, respectively), Five Times Sit to Stand (5x STS), 10-m Walk Test (10MWT), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). RESULTS: The mean PASE-P was 91.54 (SD 71.15). Sufficient reliability of the test-retest of the PASE-P questionnaire components was found between the trials. The ICC test was strong and ranged from 0.988 to 0.778 for both major domains and the total scale score. A significant correlation was found between the total PASE-P score and the shorter TUG, TUG cog (r = − 0.514, p < 0.001; r = − 0.481, p < 0.001) and 10MWT (r = 0.472, p < 0.001). The total PASE-P score was also positively correlated with ADL and IADL (r = 0.337, p < 0.001; r = 0.415 p < 0.001), BBS (r = 0.537, p < 0.001) and 5xSTS (r = 0.558, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in the study confirm that the Polish version of the PASE scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the level of physical activity in older adults living in a community.