Individual information-centered approach for handling physical activity missing data

Res Q Exerc Sport. 2009 Jun;80(2):131-7. doi: 10.1080/02701367.2009.10599546.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to validate individual information (II)-centered methods for handling missing data, using data samples of 118. We used a semisimulation approach to create six data sets: three physical activity outcome measurements (i.e., step counts, activity counts, and minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity) for both groups (i:e., middle-aged adults and older adults). After analyzing each data set separately, we replaced missing values with two II-centered and two group information (GI)-centered methods. Root mean square difference (RMSD), mean signed difference, paired t tests, and Pearson correlations were used to determine the effectiveness of the various recovery methods. Overall, the II-centered methods showed smaller RMSDs than the GI-centered methods for each data set in both groups. We found no significant mean differences between the known values and the replacement values in all conditions. The II-centered methods produced better results than GI-centered methods. We determined substituting missing data points using the average of days remaining to be an accurate missing data recovery method for middle-aged adults' and older adults'pedometer and accelerometer data.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Bias*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Ambulatory / instrumentation
  • Motor Activity*
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / standards
  • United States
  • Walking / statistics & numerical data