PoplHlth Practive Test 1

Research Scenario: Marathon Runners and Stress Fractures

  • Context: Large national sports organization with 15,230 members (marathon runners).

  • Study Focus: Assess the occurrence of stress fractures in lower leg bones due to long-distance running and relation to milk (calcium) consumption.

  • Participant Data Collection:

    • Collected from 10,000 non-injured runners.

    • Grouped: 2,000 (low milk consumption), 8,000 (normal milk consumption).

  • Findings Over 5 Years:

    • Low milk consumption group: 50 diagnosed with stress fractures.

    • Normal milk consumption group: 100 diagnosed with stress fractures.

Questions Overview

1. Study Participants Description

  • Individuals best described as:

    • e) The 10,000 marathon runners who agreed to participate.

2. Comparison Groups in Study

  • Groups compared are:

    • e) Runners who agreed to participate in the study with either low or normal milk consumption.

3. Study Design Classification

  • The study design can be classified as:

    • e) A cohort study of the occurrence of stress fractures in relation to milk consumption in marathon runners.

Immunisation Survey of Two-Year Olds

  • Context: Student assessing immunisation coverage in Auckland for two-year-olds (Total: 14,283).

  • Method: Posted questionnaires to 100 randomly selected families.

    • Responses received from 48 children.

    • 40 reported fully immunised, yielding 83% coverage (95% Confidence Interval: 72%-94%).

4. Measurement of Immunisation Status

  • Measurement used is:

    • c) Prevalence

5. Survey Purpose

  • Purpose of the survey is:

    • b) The proportion of two-year-old children in Auckland region who are fully immunised.

6. Participant Response Rate

  • The response rate is:

    • b) 48 out of 100 (48%).

7. Interpretation of Confidence Interval

  • BEST interpreted as:

    • a) In the survey sample between 72% and 94% of two-year-old children are fully immunised.

Migraine Study in Auckland Students

  • Method: Random selection of lecture theatre, show of hands for migraine headaches in past 24 hours (2% males, 3% females).

8. Validity Statement (RAMBOMAN)

  • One FALSE statement is:

    • d) As the researcher randomly selected the lecture theatre and day of week, the students were Allocated randomly to the migraine and no migraine groups.

9. Statement Comparison

  • One TRUE statement is:

    • e) All of the other statements are false.

10. Age Standardisation of Disease Rates

  • TRUE statement:

    • b) Age-standardisation reduces the effect of confounding by age.

11. Study Design Strengths and Weaknesses

  • One FALSE statement:

    • a) In a randomised controlled trial, if the study outcome is a very objective measure, it is not important for the person measuring to be blind to the participants’ exposure status.

Study on BMI and Blood Glucose Levels

  • Focus: Relationship between BMI (overweight) and blood glucose levels among university students.

  • Data Collected: 1,000 students, response rate of 980.

  • Results: Normal weight with 10% pre-diabetes, overweight with 20% pre-diabetes.

12. Study Statement Evaluation

  • One FALSE statement:

    • b) BMI is analysed here as a numarical measure.

13. Non-Random Error Concerns

  • Likely cause of non-random error is:

    • c) The possibility of inaccuracy of self-reported height and weight.

14. GATE Frame Exposure Group

  • An TRUE statement regarding GATE frame:

    • e) RD = 20%.

15. Confidence Interval Interpretation

  • BEST interpretation:

    • c) Between 12% and 28% of overweight people in the study population have pre-diabetes.

16. Study Design Classification

  • TRUE classification statement:

    • b) The study is a cross-sectional study.

Smoking and Angina Study

  • Study Population: 40,000 males aged 60-70, categorized by cigarette intake.

  • Follow-up: 10 years, cases of angina recorded.

17. Study Statement Evaluation

  • One FALSE statement:

    • c) The non-smokers are 75% less likely to experience angina compared to moderate smokers.

18. Study Design of Smoking Study

  • Study design classification is:

    • d) Cohort study.

19. Concern Over Type of Error

  • Least concerned about:

    • c) Maintenance error.

20. Identifying Randomised Controlled Trials

  • A correct identification:

    • d) All students in POPLHLTH111, if Dennis flipped a coin…

Summary Questions Related to Disease Occurrence

  • Measures: Prevalence vs incidence and characteristics of measure types.

  • Types of Errors: Random vs non-random error evaluations and their implications on study results.

21. Disease Occurrence Statement Evaluation

  • FALSE statement:

    • c) Death is usually measured as a prevalence measure of disease occurrence.

22. Non-Random Error

  • TRUE statement:

    • d) Confounding is common in studies without randomisation.

23. Epidemiological Study Designs

  • FALSE statement:

    • a) Randomised controlled trials are seldom used for investigating risk factors for disease.

Depression Study and Drug Effectiveness

  • Participant Breakdown: 2,000 people (severe and mild depression) randomly assigned to new vs old drugs.

24. Event Rate Calculation

  • FALSE statement:

    • d) The occurrence of hospitalisation for depression in people with mild depression taking the new drug is 1/100 persons/year.

25. Hospitalisation Rates Calculation

  • FALSE statement:

    • c) The risk difference in this study has no units.

26. Age-Standardised Rates Advantages

  • MAIN advantage:

    • e) The effect of differences in the age structure of the two populations is reduced.

RAMBOMAN is an acronym that represents a framework for assessing the quality and validity of research studies, particularly in epidemiology. The components of RAMBOMAN are as follows:

  • R - Recruitment: Refers to how participants are selected for the study.

  • A - Allocation: Discusses how participants are assigned to different groups within the study.

  • M - Maintenance: Pertains to the retention of participants throughout the study duration and ensuring consistent follow-up.

  • B - Blinding: Involves whether participants and researchers are blinded to the interventions to reduce bias.

  • O - Outcomes: Relates to the measures and methods used to assess results.

  • M - Measurers: Examines whether those measuring outcomes are blind to exposure status to minimize bias.

  • A - Analysis: Concerns the statistical methods employed in analyzing data.

  • N - Non-random Errors: Identifies possible biases or errors that are not due to random chance.

The significance of RAMBOMAN lies in its comprehensive approach to evaluating research quality. By addressing these components, researchers can systematically determine the robustness of study findings and identify potential sources of bias, which enhances the validity and reliability of the conclusions drawn from such studies.