HBS108 Interpreting and Evaluating Health Evidence

Interpreting and Evaluating Health Evidence
Name
Institution Affiliation
Interpreting and Evaluating Health Evidence
Task A
* The study investigates a cross-sectional association between physical activity and symptoms of depression and anxiety among the children. The participants age ranged between 14 and 15 years with a study period between 1996 and 2009. Moreover, the multinomial regression was applied to identify different relationships between physical and sedentary activity which were further noted through anxiety and depression symptoms. Lack of physical activities and sedentary lifestyle were identified as the major the risks factors among both children and adults.
* The analysis of depression symptoms was achieved through reports taken from the Ontario Child Health Study. The criteria was found to be reliable since it closely matched the DSM-III-R criteria for detecting emotional disorders (Bélair et al., 2018). Some of the statements rated include 'I am happy,' I cry', 'I have trouble enjoying myself', 'I worry a lot', 'I am not as happy as other people my age.' Therefore, the respondents commented on how the statements applied to their feelings. The Cronbach Alpha was used to rate internal reliability of these factors. The results showed a consistency with a range of about 0.76 to 0.81.
* The classification of participants varied based on the type of measurements conducted in the study. For instance, the physical activity measurements were identified through confounding variables. The variables were further defined through the bootstrap multinational regression modeling (Bélair et al., 2018). It measures the association between two variables. However, the method can have a hidden effect on the experimental outcomes
* The results show a significant association of the Odd Ratios (OR) and the CPG levels. Depressive and anxiety disorders showed the most active association with the OR. However, when having minimal rates of depression, anxiety disorder is minimal. The rates proved that the relative risks exposed to sedentary and non-active participants were higher than expected rates. For example, 1.8 showed a regression coincident, and it means that the exposure is associated with more odds outcomes since it is more than one. The 95% confidence interval provides the estimates the precision of the odds ratios. 1.42 means number of exposed cases and 2.41 means number of unexposed cases
* The definition of sedentary and physical activity might have been restrictive. The author explains the depressive symptoms to be less clear since the physical activity classification was affected by misclassification (Eime et al., 2013). Other barriers were attributed to biased outcomes.
* The major stressful event that could confound includes traumatic events and sedentary lifestyles. Minimal physical activity contributes to major health problems. It also increases chances of depression and stress thus affecting mental health.
* Increased physical activity improves mental health through relaxation. Also other coping mechanism such as sleep, exercise can reduces depression.
Task B
* Bias exists in two different forms which include selection and measurement bias. Selection further involv...