AUTHOR=Hauck Janet L. , Ketcheson Leah R. , Ulrich Dale A. TITLE=Methodology to Promote Physical Activity Monitoring Adherence in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health VOLUME=4 YEAR=2016 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2016.00206 DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2016.00206 ISSN=2296-2565 ABSTRACT=Background

Objective physical activity (PA) monitoring via accelerometry is both costly and time consuming. Furthermore, overall adherence to a monitoring protocol is often complicated by disability. Therefore, it is essential that strategies for supporting accelerometer wear for youth with disabilities are maximized. The purpose of this perspective was to provide researchers a set of efficacious PA monitoring strategies based on the retrospective examination of support methodology on adherence rates for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Method

Accelerometer data were collected from 163 participants with ASD in three independent cohorts. Each cohort was provided a varying set of support strategies to help maximize adherence. Chi-square analysis was used to determine differences in adherence between each cohort.

Results

Adherence rates significantly increased from 51.9% in cohort 1 to 88.7% in cohort 2 [χ2(1) = 18.333, p < 0.001] and again from 88.7% in cohort 2 to 97.4% in cohort 3 [χ2(1) = 2.663, p = 0.103]. The greatest increase in adherence was observed from 51.9% in cohort 1 to 97.4% in cohort 3 [χ2(1) = 19.837, p < 0.001]. Support strategies associated with these increases included (1) social story, (2) incentive, (3) concealing techniques, and (4) 24 h/day wear instructions.

Conclusion

Adherence to PA measurement increased when additional support strategies were utilized in combination with a traditional protocol. We recommend these support methodology to be considered as preliminary best practices when measuring objective PA in youth with ASD with likely success in other disability populations.