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Validity and Reliability of the International Physical Fitness Questionnaire and the Self-Perceived Health-Related Physical Fitness Questionnaire in Children and Adolescents With JIA and FMF

29 mei 2026 bijgewerkt door: Beyza Nur Yumak, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Investigation of the Validity and Reliability of the International Physical Fitness Questionnaire and the Self-Perceived Health-Related Physical Fitness Questionnaire for Children in Children and Adolescents Diagnosed With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Familial Mediterranean Fever

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), two of the most prevalent pediatric rheumatologic diseases, significantly compromise the physical health of children and adolescents, leading to reduced physical fitness, muscle weakness, and a sedentary lifestyle. This study aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of the International Fitness Scale (IFS) and the Self-Perceived Health-Related Fitness Questionnaire for Children (PHFQ-C) as assessment tools for physical fitness in individuals diagnosed with JIA and FMF. Our hypothesis is that these scales will provide demonstrably reliable and valid data within this patient population. To test this, 98 patients aged 10-18 years, recruited from the Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic at Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, will participate. Their physical fitness will be objectively measured using the FitnessGram Test Battery (assessing aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and flexibility), while the IFS and PHFQ-C will be administered online. Statistical analysis, conducted using SPSS 25.0, will employ Pearson/Spearman correlation for validity and Cronbach's alpha and test-retest Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) for reliability.

The expected findings will confirm the utility of the IFS and PHFQ-C as practical, economical, and valid instruments for assessing physical fitness in children and adolescents with JIA/FMF. Promoting the widespread use of these scales in clinical settings will facilitate the rapid and convenient evaluation of patients' fitness levels, thereby enabling the development of early, targeted intervention strategies and ultimately contributing to an improved quality of life. Furthermore, by offering a validated alternative to standard test batteries-which are often cumbersome due to requirements for time, specialized equipment, and expert personnel-this work will make a valuable methodological contribution to the existing scientific literature.

Studie Overzicht

Toestand

Nog niet aan het werven

Conditie

Gedetailleerde beschrijving

Pediatric rheumatologic diseases are a group of chronic inflammatory conditions that affect multiple organ systems and are characterized by periods of flare-ups. These conditions encompass diverse groups of disorders, including inflammatory arthritis, autoinflammatory syndromes, vasculitis, and other autoimmune diseases. While Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatologic disease in childhood and adolescence, Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is another major and frequently encountered rheumatologic condition in the pediatric population in Turkey. FMF is an autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disease, typically manifesting in childhood and presenting with recurrent episodes of fever and pain. JIA is defined as a heterogeneous group of rheumatic inflammatory diseases characterized by arthritis of unknown etiology that begins before the age of 16 and lasts for at least six weeks.

These pediatric rheumatologic conditions are often marked by pain, which can lead to limited joint mobility, muscle weakness, and fatigue. Individuals experiencing pain symptoms generally exhibit reduced physical function compared to those who are pain-free. Due to the chronic nature of the disease, frequent attacks, and associated symptoms, individuals with FMF and JIA face significant challenges such as a sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity, decreased muscle strength, fatigue, low physical fitness, and overall reduced physical function. Several studies have consistently demonstrated low levels of physical fitness in children with JIA and adolescents with FMF.

The evaluation of physical fitness in children and adolescents is crucial for identifying developmental differences and allowing for the early detection of potential health problems that may persist into adulthood. While validated and reliable, current physical fitness test batteries frequently encounter practical barriers during field application, including limitations in space, equipment, time constraints, and the need for specialized personnel. These limitations highlight a pressing need for standardized, easily administered scales to facilitate routine clinical assessment.

Studietype

Observationeel

Inschrijving (Geschat)

100

Contacten en locaties

In dit gedeelte vindt u de contactgegevens van degenen die het onderzoek uitvoeren en informatie over waar dit onderzoek wordt uitgevoerd.

Studiecontact

Naam: Nilay Arman, Associate Professor
Telefoonnummer: +90 +90 (553) 455 87 07
E-mail: nilayarman@iuc.edu.tr

Studie Contact Back-up

Naam: Beyza N Yumak, MSc
Telefoonnummer: +90 +90 (539) 856 14 70
E-mail: beyzanurymk@gmail.com

Deelname Criteria

Onderzoekers zoeken naar mensen die aan een bepaalde beschrijving voldoen, de zogenaamde geschiktheidscriteria. Enkele voorbeelden van deze criteria zijn iemands algemene gezondheidstoestand of eerdere behandelingen.

Geschiktheidscriteria

Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie

Kind
Volwassen

Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers

Nee

Bemonsteringsmethode

Niet-waarschijnlijkheidssteekproef

Studie Bevolking

It is generally recommended that the sample size for validity and reliability studies be 5 to 10 times the total number of items (30). In light of this information in the literature, and given that the International Physical Fitness Questionnaire (IPFQ) and the Self-Perceived Health-Related Physical Fitness Questionnaire for Children (SPFQ-C) have a total of 14 items, the sample size for our study was determined to be 98 participants. Consequently, we plan to include a minimum of 100 patients diagnosed with JIA or FMF in our study. Participants will be recruited from individuals who are being followed up at the Pediatric Rheumatology Subdivision of the Department of Internal Medical Sciences at Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine and who meet the inclusion criteria.

Beschrijving

Inclusion Criteria:

Age between 10 and 18 years
Diagnosis of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) or Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) established by a pediatric rheumatologist at least six months prior
Voluntary willingness to participate in the study
Provision of informed consent by both the participant and their parents/guardians
Ability to ambulate independently, communicate effectively, and comply with the instructions required for the research assessments
Sufficient literacy to comprehend written instructions and complete study-related materials

Exclusion Criteria:

Having a history of a mental or psychological problem that would prevent the understanding of questions or compliance with given instructions.
Medically unstable conditions (history of hospitalization due to heart or lung disease or a disease flare within the 4 weeks prior to the test).
Having a history of a chronic disease of cardiovascular, orthopedic, neuromuscular, or neurological origin that could affect physical fitness.
Having a history of trauma affecting the musculoskeletal system within the last 6 months.

Studie plan

Dit gedeelte bevat details van het studieplan, inclusief hoe de studie is opgezet en wat de studie meet.

Hoe is de studie opgezet?

Ontwerpdetails

Aantal groepen / cohorten

Cohorten en interventies

Groep / Cohort
Patients diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis or Familial Mediterranean Disease All participants consist of patients aged 10-18 who are followed by the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Pediatric Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic and have been diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) or Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF).

Wat meet het onderzoek?

Primaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat	Maatregel Beschrijving	Tijdsspanne
Self-Perceived Health-Related Physical Fitness Questionnaire Tijdsspanne: Until one week after registration	The scale developed by Fox and Corbin (1989) assesses self-perceived physical fitness based on a four-factor structure, consisting of cardiovascular endurance, muscular flexibility, muscular strength, and body composition (28). Subsequently, a muscular endurance factor was added, yielding the final version of the questionnaire with five dimensions of physical fitness. The instrument comprises two main sections. In the first section, five key components-cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, flexibility, and body composition-are evaluated using a scale scored from 1 to 5. In the second section, children assess their own physical fitness in comparison with their peers. The total score obtained from the questionnaire ranges from 9 to 45. Except for the body composition item, lower scores on the other items are associated with better physical fitness. In prepubertal Spanish children, ASFU-C exhibited high test-retest reliability and moderate validity across other variables.	Until one week after registration
International Fitness Scale Tijdsspanne: Until one week after the registration date	The instrument developed by Ortega et al. is a practical self-administered scale designed to assess physical fitness in individuals (24). The scale consists of five domains: overall physical fitness, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, speed/agility, and flexibility. To examine various components of physical fitness, a five-point Likert scale is employed, ranging from "very good" to "good," "average," "poor," and "very poor." Having been translated into nine different languages, the scale has demonstrated structural reliability and validity across diverse populations, including adolescent cohorts in Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Chile, and several European countries (24, 27).	Until one week after the registration date

Secundaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat	Maatregel Beschrijving	Tijdsspanne
FitnessGram Test Battery Tijdsspanne: Until one week after registration	The FitnessGram, developed by the Cooper Institute, is a valid and reliable test battery designed to assess health-related physical fitness. The FitnessGram Test Battery is a comprehensive assessment tool that includes evaluations of aerobic capacity (PACER), body composition (skinfold thickness measurement, body mass index), abdominal muscle strength and endurance (curl-up test), trunk extensor strength and flexibility (trunk lift test), upper extremity muscle strength and endurance (90° push-up test), and flexibility (back-saver sit-and-reach test) (29). In the present study, physical fitness will be assessed using the following components of the FitnessGram Test Battery: the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER), curl-up test, trunk lift test, 90° push-up test, back-saver sit-and-reach test, and skinfold thickness measurement. The Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run is a progressive field test recommended for children, adolescents, and adults, condu	Until one week after registration

Medewerkers en onderzoekers

Hier vindt u mensen en organisaties die betrokken zijn bij dit onderzoek.

Sponsor

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Onderzoekers

Studie stoel: Nilay Arman, Associate Professor, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Studie record data

Deze datums volgen de voortgang van het onderzoeksdossier en de samenvatting van de ingediende resultaten bij ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieverslagen en gerapporteerde resultaten worden beoordeeld door de National Library of Medicine (NLM) om er zeker van te zijn dat ze voldoen aan specifieke kwaliteitscontrolenormen voordat ze op de openbare website worden geplaatst.

Bestudeer belangrijke data

Studie start (Geschat)

1 juli 2026

Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)

30 oktober 2026

Studie voltooiing (Geschat)

30 oktober 2026

Studieregistratiedata

Eerst ingediend

27 november 2025

Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria

29 mei 2026

Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)

1 juni 2026

Updates van studierecords

Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)