Epidemiology and Study Design

Question 1

What was the first physical activity epidemiology study?

Answer 1

Coronary Heart-Disease and Physical Activity of Work (the bus study (London Transport Study) that compared the conductors and the drivers)

Question 2

Why was occupational physical activity the only measure of PA used in earlier studies?

Answer 2

Lack of leisure time PA

Question 3

What are the weaknesses of using occupational physical activity study?

Answer 3

Energy expenditure can differ widely in the same job
Job transfers of sick workers
may not measure LTPA
Early studies did not adjust for cofounders
New technology reduces energy expenditure over time

Question 4

How has physical activity changed since the 1950s?

Answer 4

Less related to occupational more toward leisure

Question 5

What is the overall goal of physical activity epidemiology?

Answer 5

extend mortality, compress morbidity, and improve quality of life

Question 6

Cross-sectional study

Answer 6

Snapshot in time (ex. Compare the occurrence of disease or health outcome based on the current level of participation)

one point in time

Question 7

Case-Control Study

Answer 7

Looking backward (ex. Compare the past between those with and without the disease)

Question 8

Cohort

Answer 8

followed for a period of time (starts with individuals free of the disease or health outcome followed and compared based on who develops and doesn’t over a period of time

Question 9

Randomized control trial / clinical trial

Answer 9

Intervention (ex. individuals free of the disease are randomly assigned intervention and are followed for a period of time)