HBS108 Interpreting and Evaluating Health Evidence

Subject Code :
HBS108
Country :
AU
University :
Deakin University

Q. 1.

(i) What is the study design? How does this study design rate (in comparison to other quantitative study designs) in terms of determining causal relationships between variables(i.e., between physical activity and mental health)?

(NOTE: In selecting the study design you need to distinguish between data collected over a number of years and combined in the analysis, and data collected over a number of years and analysed longitudinally, i.e., individual study participants followed up over time).

(ii) The researchers measured symptoms of depression and anxiety, based on a seven- item scale with items such as ‘I am too fearful or nervous’. For each of these items, participants were asked to rate how well the statement described themselves using the response options: ‘never or not true’, ‘sometimes or somewhat true’ or ‘often or very true’. What type of measurement scale was used to measure items such as ‘I am too fearful or nervous’?

(iii) Participants were classified as being ‘Physically Active’ or ‘Physically Inactive’. What type of measurement scale is this?

(iv) In Table 3, the likelihood of having severe symptoms of depression and anxiety was compared for being ‘Not active’ for physical activity relative to being ‘Active’. The odds ratio (OR) was reported as: 1.85 (1.42 to 2.41). Briefly explain what these three figures mean.

Your answer should include completing the following sentences: “The OR of 1.85 means that…” and “The 95% confidence limit (1.42 to 2.41) means that…”

(v) In the Conclusions, the researchers state that “…associations between sedentary behaviour and depressive symptoms are less clear”. What data from Table 3 supports this statement? You must include at least two examples of odds ratios and associated confidence intervals and what they mean to achieve full marks.

(vi) The odds ratios in Table 3 were adjusted for confounding variables including ‘Major stressful life events’. Briefly explain how major stressful life events could possibly confound the relationship between physical activity and mental health.

(vii) Can you conclude from this study that increased physical activity will lead to improved mental health for adolescents? Briefly explain the reasons for your answer.

Q. 2.

(i) Describe two types of bias which could be at play given the above situation. (NOTE: You have been introduced to two types of bias in this unit, however, you may have to use credible sources such as reputable websites or textbooks to investigate other types of bias to inform your answers to this question).

(ii) Based on what we have learned about scales of measurement in this unit, name the scale of measurement used by implementing a ‘9-category frequency scale’ and briefly justify your answer.

(iii) In the data analysis, the researchers identified the following key themes:

1. The importance of choice

2. A sense of achievement

3. Being distracted

4. Routine

5. Physiological change

6. Emotional, psychological and behavioural change

7. A cycle of change.

If you were responsible for the coding analysis, identify the key theme into which you would code each of the following participants’ comments. To save on words, just write the key theme and the number that identifies the comment you do not have to write out the comments. Reading the results section of the journal article will assist in making your coding decisions; and if in doubt about a coding decision, opt for the theme that you consider to be closest to the participant’s comment.

a. “They didn’t make me do something hard if I didn’t feel like it.”

b. “It took my mind off other things that were stressing me out.”

c. “I’m not sure why, but I just seemed to be a bit happier after the sessions.”

d. “My life has been a bit all over the place, but this helped me get a bit more structure

e. in my life.”

f. “I feel good because I’ve done something I didn’t think I’d be able to do.”

g. “It’s a bit strange, but after the sessions I felt like I had more energy.”

h. “It seemed to be a bit of a good chain reaction – one thing helped other things.”

(iv) Qualitative studies are designed to provide new insights and understandings about a health issue. Briefly describe, in your own words, how the findings from this study contributed to a new understanding of the role of physical activity in improving mental health for adolescents.

Posted on : January 21st, 2020

HBS108 Interpreting and Evaluating Health Evidence

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