Development of WEFIT Screening Tool for Assessing Pre-exercise Fitness Level for Older Adults in Peninsular Malaysia

Authors

Divya Vanoh, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelatan, MalaysiaFollow
Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan, MalaysiaFollow
Suzana Shahar, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan MalaysiaFollow
Shahrul Azman Mohd Noah, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan MalaysiaFollow
Zahara Abdul Manaf, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan, MalaysiaFollow
Noorlaili Mohd Tohit, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaFollow

Abstract

Background: Pre-exercise screening is important to identify the fitness level of older adults prior to performing exercise. This study aimed to develop a screening tool for identifying older adults with poor physical fitness prior to exercising.

Method: Participants involved 2315 older adults from four states in Peninsular Malaysia. Several social and health parameters were investigated, and fitness level was assessed using hand grip strength. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was chosen to determine the cut-off point, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and Youden`s Index of the screening tool.

Results: Age, sex, waist circumference, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and fasting blood sugar were selected as items of screening tool. The screening tool had sensitivity of 77%, specificity of 80.9%, PPV of 79% and Youden`s Index of 0.579.

Conclusion: This study provides significant findings on the importance of having a pre-exercise screening tool which has good sensitivity, specificity, PPV and Youden`s Index for identification of older adults with poor physical fitness.

Keywords: development; exercise; fitness; older adults; screening tool; Malaysia

Recommended Citation

Vanoh D, Mat Ludin A, Shahar S, Mohd Noah S, Abdul Manaf Z, Mohd Tohit N. Development of WEFIT Screening Tool for Assessing Pre-exercise Fitness Level for Older Adults in Peninsular Malaysia. J Health Res. 2023; 37(1):8-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56808/2586-940X.1006

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