Kinesiology 2000A/B Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Doubly Labeled Water, Calorimetry, Respiratory Quotient

Pickett KE, Kelly S, Brunner E, et al. published an ecological study in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health in 2005 titled Wider income gaps, wider waistbands? An ecological study of obesity and income inequality. According to the methods section of the study aggregate data was collected from the populations of 21 countries worldwide on income inequality and three outcomes: the proportion of males and females who were obese, diabetes morality rate, and calorie intake. Then statistical methods were used to measure the associations between income inequality and each outcome. The following conclusion was stated in the abstract of the article “Obesity, diabetes mortality, and calorie consumption were associated with income inequality in developed countries.”

In your own words explain why this ecological study is an analytical study. Use evidence from the information provided above to support your reasoning. (4 pts)

Why is this study considered an ecological study design? (Hint: It is not related to whether the study is descriptive or analytic) (2 pts)

What is an ecological fallacy? (2 pts)

What would the ecological fallacy be for this study? (2 pts)

Would you like 2 points for making it halfway through the midterm?

The Whitehall study is a ground-breaking longitudinal (prospective cohort) study that clearly demonstrated the association between social determinants of health (the social gradient) and morbidity and mortality (cardiovascular disease) in a population of British civil servants (Breeze et al., 2001; Chandola et al., 2008; Marmot et al., 1978).

In no more than 1,000 words please address the following short-answer questions:

What is the sampling frame for each phase of the Whitehall study (Whitehall I and II)?

 How was disease risk assessed (both in data collection and analysis) in each of the three studies, and why?

 To what extent can the results of each of the three studies can be generalised to other populations (include reasons for your answer)?

 Would it be feasible to conduct a similar study in Australia using an existing cohort such as the 45 and up study cohort, or the Australian Women’s longitudinal study cohort? Why or why not?

Additional Resources for Assessment 2

SAX Institute. (n.d.). 45 and up study. http://www.saxinstitute.org.au/our-work/45-up-study/

Australian Longitudinal study on Women’s Health. http://www.alswh.org.au/

Whitehall II (also known as the Stress & Health Study). Retrieved from http://www.ucl.ac.uk/whitehallII

Assessment criteria

 Knowledge and understanding of prospective cohort studies

 Knowledge and understanding of social determinants of health

 Knowledge an understanding of the concepts of sampling and bias

 Use of mathematical concepts to describe sampling frame and disease risk

 Interpretation of the findings of the Whitehall study and its generalisability to other populations

 Academic presentation including accurate referencing using APA style

The Whitehall study is a ground-breaking longitudinal (prospective cohort) study that clearly demonstrated the association between social determinants of health (the social gradient) and morbidity and mortality (cardiovascular disease) in a population of British civil servants (Breeze et al., 2001; Chandola et al., 2008; Marmot et al., 1978).

In no more than 1,000 words please address the following short-answer questions: 

What is the sampling frame for each phase of the Whitehall study (Whitehall I and II)? 

How was disease risk assessed (both in data collection and analysis) in each of the three studies, and why? 

To what extent can the results of each of the three studies can be generalised to other populations (include reasons for your answer)?

 Would it be feasible to conduct a similar study in Australia using an existing cohort such as the 45 and up study cohort, or the Australian Women’s longitudinal study cohort? Why or why not?

Assessment criteria  Knowledge and understanding of prospective cohort studies  Knowledge and understanding of social determinants of health  Knowledge an understanding of the concepts of sampling and bias  Use of mathematical concepts to describe sampling frame and disease risk  Interpretation of the findings of the Whitehall study and its generalisability to other populations  Academic presentation including accurate referencing using APA style