[Development and assessment of EPInfant: a rating scale of perceived exertion for the pediatric population]. / Construcción y evaluación de Epinfant: una escala para la medición del esfuerzo percibido en la población pediátrica.

Rating scales of perceived exertion (PE) have been used to measure PE during exercise in the adult population with successful results. However, in children, it is necessary to develop adapted instruments due to their cognitive immaturity. The number of Spanish-language validated instruments for the pediatric population is scarce. Our objective was to develop a new PE rating scale. Research design was divided into three stages: development, content validity, and criterion validity. For development, a panel of five expert members was summoned, who provided indications for the new instrument. A systematic review of the literature to identify other validated instruments was performed. This process resulted in the development of the new EPInfant scale to measure PE, which integrates the expert panel's indications and the result of the literature systematic review. The evaluation of its content showed a high level of agreement regarding the quality of its design; the content validity index was 1. During the field assessment, a high concurrent criterion validity was observed in healthy adolescents due to the strong correlation shown between PE and heart rate in both boys and girls. The methodology used to develop the EPInfant scale aimed at reducing potential biases that may hinder its psychometric properties. Preliminary results suggest that this may be a validated instrument that could be implemented in healthy adolescents.

Las escalas de medición del esfuerzo percibido (EP) han sido utilizadas para cuantificar el EP en la población adulta durante el ejercicio, con resultados exitosos. No obstante, en niños, debido a su inmadurez cognitiva, es necesario el desarrollo de instrumentos adaptados. Son escasos los instrumentos validados en lenguaje español para la población pediátrica. El objetivo fue desarrollar una nueva escala de medición de EP. Se llevó a cabo un diseño de investigación dividido en tres etapas: construcción, validez de contenido y validez de criterio. Para la construcción, se constituyó un panel de cinco expertos, quienes generaron indicaciones para el nuevo instrumento, y se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura para identificar otros instrumentos validados. Este proceso dio origen a la nueva escala EPInfant para la medición de EP, la cual integra las indicaciones del panel de expertos y el resultado de la revisión sistemática de la literatura. En la evaluación de su contenido, se observó un alto nivel de acuerdo respecto a la calidad de su diseño, que presentó un índice de validez de contenido de 1. En la evaluación en terreno, se observó una alta validez de criterio concurrente en adolescentes sanos al presentar una fuerte correlación entre EP y frecuencia cardíaca en ambos sexos. La escala EPInfant fue desarrollada mediante una metodología que procuró disminuir los potenciales sesgos que pudiesen afectar sus propiedades psicométricas. Resultados preliminares sugieren que sería una herramienta válida para su aplicación en adolescentes sanos

Healthy Habits, Happy Homes: methods and baseline data of a randomized controlled trial to improve household routines for obesity prevention.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a home-based intervention for parents of 2-5 year old children to promote household routines to prevent overweight/obesity. METHODS: We recruited 121 children from health centers in Boston between 2011 and 2012 and randomized 62 to intervention and 59 to the control condition. The 6-month intervention included 1) motivational coaching at home and by phone with a health educator, 2) mailed educational materials, and 3) weekly text messages. The intervention promoted three household routines: eating meals as a family, obtaining adequate sleep, and limiting screen time. RESULTS: Of the 121 children, mean (SD) age was 4.0 (1.1) years; 52% were Hispanic, 34% Black, and 14% White/Other. Nearly 60% of the sample had annual household incomes ≤ $20,000. Approximately 64% of families reported eating together ≥ 7 times per week, however, many meals were eaten in front of a TV. Over half of the children slept less than the recommended 11h/night and 78% viewed ≥ 2 h/day of screen time. CONCLUSIONS: Household routines that increase obesity risk were prevalent among low-income families in this study. If proven to be effective, promotion of household routines related to family meals, sleep, and screen time may prevent young children from becoming overweight/obese.