Reliability and validity of the hands-up survey in assessing commuting to school in New Zealand elementary school children.

The decrease in physical activity time in and out of school increases the need for active commuting. School travel plan programs have been used internationally to increase active commuting in elementary school children. However, little research has been conducted in the reliability and validity of travel survey instruments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability and validity of the Hands-Up survey to assess active commuting to school from a random sample of children within the Auckland region, New Zealand. Test-retest reliability and criterion validity of travel modes were determined in 118 elementary school children in the Auckland region. The survey tool consisted of one question on commuting to school. Test-retest reliability and validity were evaluated using kappa coefficients. The level of agreement between the children's responses (κ = .96, 95% confidence interval = 0.92-1.00) and between children's and parents' (κ = .91, 95% confidence interval = 0.85-0.98) were almost perfect. The Hands-Up survey is a valid and reliable tool to determine travel mode to school among elementary school children.