Background/Purpose: Conducting research using accelerometry is both costly and time consuming. The purpose of this study was to identify practical strategies for adapting accelerometer wear for youths with disabilities to maximize adherence. By providing parents with basic strategies to adapt physical activity (PA) monitoring, participants experience less anxiety towards the measurement, increasing adherence to the protocol.
Methods: Through research conducted on PA interventions (n=48) for individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) aged 5-18 years, anecdotal data on accelerometer wear were gathered via parent report.
Analysis/Results: Parents' feedback was utilized in the development of strategies designed to minimize or eliminate the individual anxieties experienced by each participant. During initial collaborative processes, parents provided detailed descriptions and results of each strategy employed. Successful strategies were then provided to parents during subsequent research incorporating accelerometry measurement. Adherence levels increased after strategies were provided to parents.
Conclusions: Simple strategies to adapt accelerometer wear for youths with disabilities can successfully increase adherence to the research protocol without affecting validity or reliability. Given the cost and time required to obtain reliable data, easily incorporated strategies that offer increased adherence are extremely useful to investigators conducting PA research. In addition, these strategies offer participants a more positive experience when participating in research with decreased burden. With this knowledge, it is expected that objective PA measurement using accelerometers will become easier and more feasible for future research for individuals with DS and ASD.