Assessment of participation in physical activities and relationship to socioeconomic and health factors. The controversial value of self-perception.

Physician counseling on physical activities for sedentary people is usually based on anamneses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the accuracy of self-perception of participation in physical activities, and the correlation of physical activity with background factors. A random sample of 276 individuals aged 20-65 years completed a detailed questionnaire on type and intensity of physical activity and associated socioeconomic and health factors. Physical activities were divided into work, leisure-time, and sports and rated according to Baecke's four-item index. In addition, subjects answered a yes/no item that resembled the general question regarding physical activity usually asked by physicians in a typical anamnesis. About half of the population was found to lead a sedentary life-style. The lower the level of education, the greater the physical activity at work. Males had a higher sports index than females. Interestingly, 1.3% of those with a high questionnaire score reported on the anamnesis question that they did not engage in regular physical activity, whereas 17.5% with a low questionnaire score answered "yes" to the last item. In conclusion, self-reports on physical activity may be inaccurate and to ensure proper counseling, primary care physicians must place greater weight on the patient history.